#COVID19 #Secondwave: FG To ‘Suspend’ Passports Of Travellers Who Evade COVID-19 Tests

*Blames states for low testing
*100 travellers banned for 6 months
*New protocols for UK, South Africa travellers

The Federal Government has expressed concern over the increasing
rate of positive cases of COVID-19 pandemic noting that the nation
the highest number of infections in a single week (week 52), to
date.

It has therefore stressed the need for oxygen availability as
critical to the success of case management in the country.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss
Mustapha, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the media
briefing.

He also lamented the difficulty in the national response, noting
that “​Our National Response is passing through a challenging phase
due to the seriousness of the second wave of infections in Nigeria.
Week 52 has so far given us the highest number of infections, in a
single week, to date.

“Our analysis shows that 16 out of every 100 tests carried out
are positive. We are also seeing increasing transmission among
younger people and this is not considered good and safe. We must
therefore exercise utmost restraint by taking responsibility.

“The PTF, this afternoon, discussed two very critical issues
namely: Oxygen supply and Case Management. With the increasing
number of infections and hospitalization, our objectives are to:
ensure that infection, prevention and control (IPC) is properly
instituted to minimize spread and exposure of health care workers
to the virus; ensure that those who require hospitalization are
well managed; those requiring medical attention for other ailments
gain access to Treatment at medical facilities; and critical care
is available and deployed especially where oxygen is needed.

“The situation in Abuja and its environs has been of concern to
the PTF.

During our conversation with health authorities (including the
CMDs of Federal Tertiary Institutions in Abuja: – National
Hospital; Jabi and Gwagwalada) this afternoon, the PTF directed
that the level of Infections, Prevention and Control as well as
case management should be prioritized immediately.”

The PTF chairman regretted that despite the resources made
available to the states across the country, testing is very low
across states in varying degrees.

According to him, this is not helping the National Response and
that some states have not reported any infections in several
weeks.

“Reports received also point to the fact that laboratories
recently established in the states are not working optimally. You
will recall that we moved from two laboratories to about 90 (Public
and Private) located in all states of the Federation.

“Their inability to function optimally has resulted in
unacceptable levels of delay in receiving results and pressure on
the National Reference Labs. We wish to urge all states to reopen
all laboratories and ensure that testing is expanded and turnaround
time for results is substantially reduced,” Mustapha said.

He therefore urged the states to keep their Isolation/Treatment
Centres open because of the rising cases of infection
nationwide.

The SGF also said that the PTF has worked out additional
quarantine protocols to be observed by travelers arriving from the
UK and South Africa.

According to him, this is in keeping with government
determination to minimize any possibility of importation of the
virus.

He said, “The new policy started from Monday, 28th December,
2020. Key changes include requirement for passengers for two
additional documents, permit to travel/QR code obtained from the
travel portal after payment for the day seven post-arrival test;
and COVID-19 PCR negative test with a validity now shortened to 96
hours or 4 days.

“The PTF shall remain vigilant on this matter and our relevant
agencies are also working on the sequencing to determine the strain
found.”

He announced that effective from January 1, 2021, the passports
of the first 100 passengers that have failed to take their
post-arrival PCR test would be published in the national
dailies.

According to the PTF chairman, the passports of the erring
returning travellers will be suspended until June 2021, to serve as
a deterrent.

*Blames states for low testing
*100 travellers banned for 6 months
*New protocols for UK, South Africa travellers

The Federal Government has expressed concern over the increasing
rate of positive cases of COVID-19 pandemic noting that the nation
the highest number of infections in a single week (week 52), to
date.

It has therefore stressed the need for oxygen availability as
critical to the success of case management in the country.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss
Mustapha, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the media
briefing.

He also lamented the difficulty in the national response, noting
that “​Our National Response is passing through a challenging phase
due to the seriousness of the second wave of infections in Nigeria.
Week 52 has so far given us the highest number of infections, in a
single week, to date.

“Our analysis shows that 16 out of every 100 tests carried out
are positive. We are also seeing increasing transmission among
younger people and this is not considered good and safe. We must
therefore exercise utmost restraint by taking responsibility.

“The PTF, this afternoon, discussed two very critical issues
namely: Oxygen supply and Case Management. With the increasing
number of infections and hospitalization, our objectives are to:
ensure that infection, prevention and control (IPC) is properly
instituted to minimize spread and exposure of health care workers
to the virus; ensure that those who require hospitalization are
well managed; those requiring medical attention for other ailments
gain access to Treatment at medical facilities; and critical care
is available and deployed especially where oxygen is needed.

“The situation in Abuja and its environs has been of concern to
the PTF.

During our conversation with health authorities (including the
CMDs of Federal Tertiary Institutions in Abuja: – National
Hospital; Jabi and Gwagwalada) this afternoon, the PTF directed
that the level of Infections, Prevention and Control as well as
case management should be prioritized immediately.”

The PTF chairman regretted that despite the resources made
available to the states across the country, testing is very low
across states in varying degrees.

According to him, this is not helping the National Response and
that some states have not reported any infections in several
weeks.

“Reports received also point to the fact that laboratories
recently established in the states are not working optimally. You
will recall that we moved from two laboratories to about 90 (Public
and Private) located in all states of the Federation.

“Their inability to function optimally has resulted in
unacceptable levels of delay in receiving results and pressure on
the National Reference Labs. We wish to urge all states to reopen
all laboratories and ensure that testing is expanded and turnaround
time for results is substantially reduced,” Mustapha said.

He therefore urged the states to keep their Isolation/Treatment
Centres open because of the rising cases of infection
nationwide.

The SGF also said that the PTF has worked out additional
quarantine protocols to be observed by travelers arriving from the
UK and South Africa.

According to him, this is in keeping with government
determination to minimize any possibility of importation of the
virus.

He said, “The new policy started from Monday, 28th December,
2020. Key changes include requirement for passengers for two
additional documents, permit to travel/QR code obtained from the
travel portal after payment for the day seven post-arrival test;
and COVID-19 PCR negative test with a validity now shortened to 96
hours or 4 days.

“The PTF shall remain vigilant on this matter and our relevant
agencies are also working on the sequencing to determine the strain
found.”

He announced that effective from January 1, 2021, the passports
of the first 100 passengers that have failed to take their
post-arrival PCR test would be published in the national
dailies.

According to the PTF chairman, the passports of the erring
returning travellers will be suspended until June 2021, to serve as
a deterrent.