COVID-19: Federal Government to cancel all church, mosque, & social gatherings

Theinfo reported that Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has advised that mass gatherings of any type should be discouraged as the fear of a possible Coronavirus outbreak looms. In an update released by the NCDC on Monday afternoon, the National Epidemic monitoring team is on top of the situation in the country as the global transmission of the virus becomes worrisome.

‘The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is constantly monitoring the epidemiological
situation in the country. In view of the rapid evolution and global transmission of coronavirus,
NCDC will make the recommendation for cancellation of mass gatherings in line with guidelines
from the World Health Organization (WHO).’

The federal government has placed a close watch on all types of mass gatherings, outlining a few to be discouraged and if can’t be dallied, proper authorization should be taken from the State Ministry of Health.

Below are the guidelines from the NCDC:

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control offers the following guidance with key planning
considerations for organisers currently planning mass gatherings in view of the COVID-19
outbreak. These include:

• Religious events e.g. church services, calls to prayer, prayer meetings and other
gatherings
• Sporting events e.g. football matches
• Social events e.g. weddings, funerals, parties, music concerts
• Others e.g. youth service camps, conferences, exhibitions
Organisers of these events must ensure adequate preparations are in place, before hosting an
event. Event organisers should consider using distancing measures to reduce close contact
among people during the gathering e.g by providing more entry and exit points, more food
points, ensure handwashing facilities (with soap and water) are readily available at entry and exit
points.

PRE-EVENT OR GATHERING
1. The State Ministry of Health should be informed of the event. The location will be assessed
by officials from the State Ministry of Health to ensure safety procedures are in place. The
requirements listed below will be assessed prior to the event.
2. Organisers should provide the following information to attendees prior to the event and at
entry
o Advice on regularly and thoroughly washing of hands with soap under running water or
use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
o Avoid shaking hands, hugging and any other form of physical contact where possible

Please stay at home if you feel ill with fever, cough or breathing difficulties
o Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze
(organisers can provide this). Dispose of the tissues immediately
o Please remain in self-isolation for 14 days, if you have just returned from China, Japan,
Italy, Republic of Korea, Iran, France, Germany, Spain
DURING EVENT OR GATHERING
1. Use the gathering to reinforce messages on hand and respiratory hygiene and staying safe.
Religious institutions are encouraged to demonstrate hand washing technique before the
start of prayers to their congregation
2. Ensure provision of adequate hand washing facilities including running water, soap or
alcohol-based hand sanitizer
3. People with symptoms such as cough and a fever should NOT BE ALLOWED into the premises.
Arrangements should be made to check this on entry
4. Organisers should provide adequate human resource who will be responsible for cleaning
and disinfecting communal places such as ablution areas, all floors, toilets and surfaces such
as door handles, chairs and church benches with disinfectant or soap
5. Organisers should provide adequate waste management facilities such as closed trash cans
so that people dispose tissue and other waste properly
6. Organisers should review practices that put their congregation at risk (e.g sharing a
communal cup, receiving the holy communion on the tongue, shaking hands)
FACILITIES IN PLACE FOR MASS GATHERINGS:
1. Room with adequate ventilation and proper air circulation
2. Hand washing facilities- running water and soap
3. Waste management facilities
4. Health personnel to detect fever on entry and respond to emergencies
5. Adequate resources to disinfect after the event
Attendees at mass gatherings are also advised to review the advisory above and take note of
preventive measures.