Buhari Signs New COVID-19 Rules For Churches, Markets And The Use Of Face Masks

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Coronavirus Disease Health Protection 2021. The regulation makes it mandatory to use masks in public spaces, as Nigeria struggles with the second wave of COVID-19.

That was confirmed by Boss Mustapha, chair of the Presidential Task Force (TFP) on COVID-19, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mustapha, who is also the federal government’s secretary, has confirmed that Buhari signed the document on Tuesday.

In his view, the President signed the document in the exercise of powers under section 4 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.

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Part 2 of the regulation stipulates that no one will be allowed within the premises of a market, mall, supermarket, shop, gardens, leisure parks, recreation centres, restaurants, hotels, event centres, motor parks, fitness centre, etc. “Except he is wearing a face mask that covers the nose and mouth, he washes his hands or cleaned the hands using hand sanitiser approved by NAFDAC and his body temperature has been checked.

Any person whose body temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius will be refused entry and advised to seek immediate medical attention.

Part 1 deals with restrictions on gatherings. It stipulates that at all gatherings, a two-metre physical distance shall be maintained at all times between persons.

It added, “No gathering of more than 50 persons shall be held in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity of the space.”