COVID-19: FG Extends Stay-at-home Directive For Workers

The Federal Government has further extended the work-from-home directive to civil servants on Salary Grade Levels 12 and below.

This was contained in a circular titled, ‘Stay-at-home directive continues’, dated March 3, by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan.

It read, “Further to the circular No: HCSF/3065/Vol.1/68 dated 26th January 2021, and following the advice of the presidential task force on COVID-19, all officers on SGL 12 and below are to continue working from home till the end of March 2021.

“While it is acknowledged that there has been a reduction in the number of reported cases of COVID-19, it is important that this downward trend be maintained. It is to this end, that the work-from-home directive has to continue as specified above.

“It is also important to emphasise the need to ensure strict compliance with the existing guidelines on the prevention and spread of COVID-19.

“Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers are enjoined to bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all concerned and ensure strict compliance.”

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had, on Tuesday, announced 479 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in Nigeria to 156,496.

The NCDC disclosed the figure on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday.

Since the outbreak of the disease in the country, the number of people who have contracted the virus has risen to 156,496, out of which 134,551 have recovered and discharged.

The health agency recorded additional eight COVID-19-related deaths in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of fatalities to 1,923 since February 27, 2020, when the index case was reported.

The NCDC stated that 479 new infections were reported across 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory, which had 40.

Lagos State recorded 153 new cases but no death.

The NCDC stated that till date, 56,001 people have contracted COVID-19 in Lagos State, 53,805 of whom have fully recovered and discharged. It said 410 COVID-19 patients in the state had succumbed.

Other states which recorded new COVID-19 infections were Enugu-75; Rivers-50; Kaduna-18; Ebonyi-17; Plateau-17; Edo-17,’Borno-16 and Oyo-12.

Kano State reported 11; Abia-10; Cross River-10; Taraba-nine; Nasarawa-seven; Bauchi-four; Bayelsa-three; Delta-three; Ekiti-two; Niger-two; Ogun-two and Akwa Ibom-one.

The NCDC said that 647 people have been discharged from the various isolation centres in the country, after testing negative for the virus.