The Lagos State Government has disclosed that individuals who violate the new State Coronavirus Act of 2021 would pay fines of up to N500,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.
The Commissioner for Health, said the stringent measures was designed to mitigate possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
He also disclosed that providing false or deliberately misleading information when filling out the online platform is an offence punishable by one year imprisonment and/or fines.
Prof Abayomi stressed on the need for passengers to comply strictly to the laid-out protocols to avoid sanctions.
The update partly reads, “Whilst the State has gone through great lengths to provide a seamless experience for passengers,
it is important that the passengers adhere strictly to the laid-out protocols to avoid sanctions which may include penalties and/or prison time as laid out by the Lagos State House of Assembly and to
be implemented by the Attorney General of the State.
“It is worthy of note to state that the new Coronavirus Act of 2021 empowers Mr. Governor to quarantine anyone he deems fit and for any period of time. The act also empowers him to sanction
erring individuals with fines of up to N500,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 5 years.
“According to the act, providing false or deliberately misleading information when filling out the online platform is an offence punishable by one year imprisonment and/or fines according to Section 17 of the CoronaVirus Pandemic Law 2021.
“According to Section 17 of same, if passengers break the quarantine rules, they may be required to pay the stipulated fine and/or one year imprisonment,” the Commissioner said.
He revealed that of the 568 in-bound passengers, 119 persons have refused isolation and 16 are unaccounted for since the commencement of the new guidelines and the ban on non-Nigerians travelling from three countries (India, Brazil and Turkey) into the country.
He said, “Since the commencement of the new guidelines and the ban on non-Nigerians travelling from three countries (India, Brazil and Turkey) into Nigeria, Lagos State has recorded 568 in-bound passengers, who have been permitted to enter Nigeria from these three countries.
“We have isolated 433 passengers in our various accredited hotels and facilities; 262 are in Isolation and 154 passengers have been discharged with a negative COVID-19 test.
“Nine have tested positive to COVID-19 and successfully isolated to prevent community transmission. Of the remaining 135 passengers, 119 have refused isolation and 16 are unaccounted for.
He appealed to families of those that have refused to be isolated to appeal to their loved ones to return for testing and isolation.
Prof Abayomi said, ” On the 24th of May 2021, the Presidential Steering Committee led by Mr. Boss Mustapha and working together with the COVID-19 response in Lagos State, led by the Incident Commander, the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, published a first list of defaulters of the laid down protocols travelling through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport as it relates to the red listed countries (India, Brazil and Turkey).
“All passengers affected should contact the lead of our Case Management Unit, Dr. Abimbola Bowale, on
bimbobowale@gmail.com who will verify their status. The list of names who may
have been mistakenly placed on this list and have been cleared will be sent to the Presidential Steering Committee for removal from the published names.
“However, all passengers that have
been confirmed absconders will have their passports deactivated for a minimum of one year, if Nigerian and if foreign, will have their resident permits cancelled and deported as stated by the
Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.
“All absconders will also face the penalties of the Coronavirus Pandemic Law 2021 of Lagos State, including varying lengths of prison time up to one year and fines of up to N500,000.
“All affected passengers are to present themselves to the Yaba Mainland Hospital for assessment and COVID-19 tests to evaluate their status. A second list of absconders will be published.”
He further said that
As at 27th of May 2021, Lagos State had tested 495,339 COVID-19 samples, with 58,975 of these samples confirmed positive. 54,426 have recovered in community and 274 are active in community.
Of the 58,975 confirmed cases, 356 deaths were, unfortunately, recorded. These amount to a death rate of 0.6 percent.On March 12, 2021, the vaccination campaign was flagged off in Lagos, and, so far, a total of 317,916 people have been vaccinated with the first dose of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine. This means that 1.32 percent of the state’s population have received the first dose.”
He disclosed that on Friday the 28th of May 2021, the State commenced the administration of the second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine.
Given the requirement for achieving herd immunity,he said Lagos State still needs to vaccinate about 14,000,000 (14 Million)people to reach this target, as is actively happening in many parts of the world, to collectively eradicate this global pandemic, he noted.
He added :”Therefore, the government is considering several channels, including discussions with the Federal Government and the Private Sector, to ramp up the vaccination numbers.
“The administration of the second dose is in continuation of Phase 1 COVID vaccination that started on the 12th of March 2021. For anyone to be fully vaccinated, two doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID vaccine are required with an interval of 6-12 weeks.The second dose will be administrated on working days (Monday to Friday) across our approved 88 health facilities till the 9th of July 2021.”
