Lagos State Governor directs re-opening of Churches on the 9th of August

In the 17th briefing on COVID-19 response held at the State House in Marina on Saturday, the Lagos state Governor, Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu, directed the re-opening of places of worship in the State, August 9 for churches.

This was in response to the decline in the COVID-19 positive cases.

In the case of places of worship, only regular services or religious gatherings are permitted. Night Vigils and other non-regular events remain prohibited until further notice. Also, attendees of over the age of 65 years are strongly discouraged from attending worship centres, the Governor said, adding that all worship centres must adhere to face mask guideline.

The Governor said the new development followed a careful review of emerging positive events, stressing the decisions to relax the lockdown measures was to create a balance between competing demands of safeguarding lives of the residents and preserving their means of livelihoods.

He said: “Having carefully reviewed the current scenario in Lagos, we have taken some important decisions in line with the ongoing objective of calibrating an effective balance between the competing demands of safeguarding lives and enabling livelihoods.

“Places of worship in Lagos will be allowed to open from Friday, August 7, for our Muslim worshippers, and Sunday, August 9, for Christian worshippers, but only at 50 per cent of their regular capacity. Worship centres whose main worship period falls on Saturdays are equally permitted to hold their services, subject to the same guidelines as churches holding services on Sundays.

All the mandatory prevention and control measures issued by the State Government must be strictly adhered to, including physical distancing, mandatory temperature checks and use of masks in public places, regular disinfection of premises, and strong personal hygiene.

Worship centres that re-open without complying with the mandatory hygienic protocols and physical distancing requirements will be shut down and face the wrath of the law, the Governor warned.

The Governor also directed the re-opening of social clubs with registered trustees and recreational centres from August 14, but with the condition that they obtain a provisional safety compliance certificate from the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC).

The Governor also directed the re-opening of social clubs with registered trustees, recreational centres and from August 14, but with the condition that they obtain a provisional safety compliance certificate from the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC). He also said that restaurants can now resume in-dining services, but at 50 per cent occupancy capacity on the same date, August 14