The Lags State Government has cancelled the planned reopening of churches and mosques in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Tuesday at a televised press briefing.
The governor had on Thursday, June 4 asked mosques to reopen from June 19, adding that churches can begin services from June 21.
The governor explained that the reopening was cancelled because of the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the state.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Lagos has
recorded no fewer than 7,319 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of these,
1,137 are considered recovered while 82 are dead.
While making the announcement, the governor said the suspension of the reopening of worship centres is “indefinite”.
The governor also said social and events centers, and social clubs, will also remain closed in the state.
He said, “As at midnight yesterday, June 15, 2020, Lagos State had
recorded a total of 7,319 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of this number,
1,137 have fully recovered and been discharged, while 82 have sadly
died, leaving 6,100 active cases under management in the State.
“Our dear state, therefore, continues to be the epicenter of the
coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, with about 44 per cent of the total
number of confirmed cases nationwide.
“Dear Lagosians, in the most recent guidelines which we issued on the
gradual easing of the lockdown, based on the advice of the Presidential
Task Force on COVID-19, I noted that we would shortly be permitting the
restricted opening of religious houses, on the condition of strict
compliance with detailed guidelines issued by the Lagos State Safety
Commission.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation since then, and have
now concluded that we cannot proceed with any form of re-opening for
places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice.
“This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, it is simply in
line with our ongoing evaluation of evolving scenarios regarding the
course of the infection in Lagos State and the corresponding public
health advisory guidelines issued by the experts.
“So, let me say this again: we are now hereby suspending, with
immediate effect, the plan to re-open religious houses and places of
worship in Lagos State, until further notice.
“Therefore, until further notice, all places of worship in Lagos
State will remain closed. Social and events centers, and social clubs,
will also remain closed, for now.”