Here’s How the New Lagos State COVID-19 Guidelines Affect You + Global World Updates

Lagos State on Wednesday recorded 87 new coronavirus cases, this brings the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 931. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the total number of infections in Nigeria has risen to 1728, while 307 recoveries and 51 fatalities have been recorded.

As at 11:55 pm 29th April, the breakdown of cases by states: 87-Lagos, 24-Kano, 18-Gombe, 17-Kaduna, 16-FCT, 10-Katsina, 8-Sokoto, 7-Edo, 6-Borno, 1-Yobe, 1-Ebonyi and 1-Adamawa.

As at April 29th 2020, #COVID19 confirmed cases have been reported in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory

Visit https://t.co/Z5x7UFXpXd for a breakdown of confirmed cases in each state and other details pic.twitter.com/gRZORQhSKa

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 29, 2020

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk is strongly against stay-at-home orders

Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk is strongly against stay-at-home orders meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, calling them “fascist” and likening them to “forcibly imprisoning people in their homes” during a Tesla earnings call on Wednesday, BBC reports.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu laid down guidelines for easing the lockdown in the state

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced a “controlled easing phase framework” for movement and re-opening of businesses starting from on Monday, May 4. He said the new set of guidelines are to safeguard the gains which the state has made in the past four weeks in the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The statement shared via his official Instagram page reads:

In furtherance to the anticipated expiration of Federal Government (FG)imposed lockdown, the Lagos State Government has developed a strict framework to guide movement and the gradual re-opening of businesses from Monday, 4th May 2020.

The lockdown expiration is not a directive for full reopening of the economy, however businesses will be allowed to operate within the “Controlled Easing Phase Framework”.

All business to re-open next week within this framework are hereby mandated to operate between 9am to 3pm, with a maximum staff strength of 60%. Other non-essential workers should be encouraged to work remotely. Effective Monday we will begin implementation of the FG imposed dusk to dawn curfew from 8pm to 6am daily.

All commuters are mandated to wear face masks and wash/sanitize their hands before every trip. All garages and motorparks must observe social distancing while queuing up to board transport vehicles.

All Buses are required to be loaded to a maximum capacity of 60%, whilst air conditioners in public transport vehicles must be switched off and windows wound down.

At no time should there be more than 7 passengers in any vehicle transporting food items. The use of commercial motorcycles (okada) is prohibited state-wide until further notice, whilst tricycles (keke) operating in unrestricted areas are not allowed to carry beyond 2 passengers at any time. Water transportation is also restricted from 6am to 6pm daily.

All entertainments centres such as bars, event centres, cinemas, nightclubs, and beaches should remain closed. All worship centres, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions should also remain closed until further notice. Swimming pools, barber-shops, spas, beauty salons will continue to remain closed for another 2 weeks prior to a review and advise on a permissible opening date for these establishments.

The statement continues:

It is important to acknowledge the role of the banking sector in sustaining the economy, hence banks are encouraged to open all their branches and offer their full complement of services to the public within the stipulated hours of 9am to 3pm.

They must also ensure that their ATMs and other devices used by members of the public, are regularly disinfected and sterilized.

We will be unveiling a whistle blower channel to report organizations that flout the new directives. Whistleblowers would be guaranteed full protection and their identities would be kept strictly confidential.
I will be inaugurating a committee of various stakeholders to communicate the newly introduced guidelines to their members, for ease of implementation and compliance.

It is a gradual and controlled easing of the lockdown. We will continue to monitor the health situation and economic impact, with a view to adjust our responses accordingly.

Residents and organizations are hereby advised to adhere strictly to these new directives, as members of the public who are found wanting, would face the full wrath of the Law.

South Africa COVID-19 cases pass 5,000

The number of coronavirus cases in South Africa rises past the 5,000 marks after reporting 354 cases of new cases on Wednesday, bringing the overall total to 5,350, and the number of fatalities spiked by 10 to 103.

The ministry of health said in a tweet, “This is the highest number of cases in a 24-hour cycle recorded to date and represents a 73% increase on the day before,” it said, adding in a separate tweet that the number of deaths had risen by 10 to 103.

As at today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 5350, an increase of 354 cases from yesterday.This is the highest number of cases in a 24 hour cycle recorded to date and represents a 73% increase relative to the day before #COVID__19 #CoronaVirusSA

— Department of Health (@HealthZA) April 29, 2020

The total number of tests conducted to date is 197 127, of which 11 630 were done in the last 24 hours. This is the highest number of tests done in a 24 hour period, representing a 66% percent increase relative to the previous day’s tally #COVID__19 #CoronaVirusSA

— Department of Health (@HealthZA) April 29, 2020

The US has close to 61,000 deaths from coronavirus

Guinea-Bissau’s Prime Minister, Nuno Nabiam and three other government ministers have tested positive for Coronavirus

The Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Nuno Nabiam and three ministers, on Wednesday, tested positive for coronavirus. The Health Minister, Antonio Deuna, confirmed this, revealing that they are being quarantined presently at a hotel in the country’s capital, Bissau, BBC reports.

So far, Guinea-Bissau has recorded 205 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with one death, and 19 recoveries, according to the tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Also, some members of the cabinet, Interior Minister Botche Cande and two secretaries of state, Mario Fambe and Monica Buaro were also infected.

The health ministry in #GuineaBissau says the Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam has tested positive for #coronavirus. Interior Minister Botche Cande and two other ministers also have Covid-19. The West African country has so far confirmed 205 coronavirus cases and one death.

— Rachael Akidi (@rakidi) April 30, 2020

Spain and Italy – two worst-hit countries in Europe are gradually easing down the lockdown

The four worst-hit countries in Europe are Italy, the UK, Spain and France, all of which have recorded at least 20,000 deaths. Italy and Spain, where the outbreaks began earlier, are now joining others around Europe in relaxing some of the restrictions that slowed the spread of the virus.

Spain has announced a four-phase plan to lift its lockdown and return to “new normality” by the end of June. Children there under the age of 14 are now allowed to leave their homes for an hour a day, after six weeks in lockdown. In Italy, certain shops and factories have been allowed to reopen and the prime minister says further measures will be eased from 4 May.

Madrid’s balcony cinema screens films for people in lockdown