President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a law to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, providing legal backing to some Covid-related restrictions.
This was disclosed by the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha on Wednesday while handing over five ambulances donated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Federal Ministry of Health on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Mustapha, the bill titled “COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021”, is an exercise of the powers as conferred on the president by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act.
“The regulations enforce physical distancing of at least two metres and a regulation of the number of people to be admitted in an enclosed environment,” Mr Mustapha said.
The new regulations also provide that 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.
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“The provisions of these regulations may be varied by Guidelines and Protocols as may be issued, from time to time, by the PTF on COVID-19 on the recommendation of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),” the law reads.
People Gazette reports that in the other part of the law, public places like open markets, malls, supermarkets, shops, restaurants, hotels, event centres, gardens, leisure parks, recreation centres, motor parks and fitness centres, wearing of face masks, hands washing, and the use of hand sanitisers, amongst other regulations, are compulsory.
“It stipulates a penalty of a fine or a prison of six months for offenders. The President said that the law takes immediate effect,” he explained.
