“I’m fit as a butcher’s dog it feels great,” Johnson tweeted, adding that he is “bursting with antibodies.”

“Plenty more to say via Zoom of course and other means of electronic communication,” Johnson said.

The British prime minister needs to cope with Europe’s COVID-19 outbreak and secure a UK-EU trade deal in the weeks ahead.

Johnson, 56, has been self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, a Downing Street spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.

“The PM is well and does not have any symptoms of COVID-19,” the statement added.

Johnson had a meeting with some MPs in 10 Downing Street on Thursday morning, including Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield, who later developed coronavirus symptoms and tested positive, Sky News reported.

He has recovered from COVID-19 after contracting the virus in late March and spending three days in intensive care in early April.

England is currently under a month-long national lockdown until Dec. 2, the second since the COVID-19 outbreak in Britain, in a bid to stem the resurgence of the virus.

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The measures, which are similar but not as comprehensive as those in place in the first lockdown earlier in the year, are to last until Dec. 2.

Restaurants, cultural facilities, sports centres and leisure facilities have to close, but schools and universities remain open.

Retailers will also stay closed for a month – apart from supermarkets and other stores considered necessary.

People may only leave their homes for good reason – for work, sports, recreation or to care for relatives.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are making their own rules to combat the virus.

England’s National Health Service was placed on its highest alert level on Wednesday as bosses said they were seriously concerned about the added pressure on health systems in particular overcrowded hospitals.

The number of daily deaths in connection with the virus rose to 492 on Wednesday, the highest toll since the start of the pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had introduced a three-tier system of restrictions for England in mid-October, but the move was criticised as insufficient.

Parliament had approved the current lockdown on Wednesday.

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It was reported that the PTF briefed the president on the second phase of the gradual easing of lockdown announced four weeks ago, to check the spread of the deadly virus.

It was reported that Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was accompanied by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, the Coordinator of the PTF on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu.

The Director General of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, was also in attendance of the meeting with the president.

Mustapha is expected later today to brief the press on the possible review of the existing ease of lockdown measures across the country.

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This was disclosed by the Chairman of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha during the daily briefing in Abuja.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari took the decision based on the recommendations of the PTF.

Our correspondent reports that President Buhari had on April 27, announced a “phased and gradual easing” of the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states, while declaring a nationwide curfew with effect from May 4.

The President also ordered a ban on all inter-state movements..
The Chairman said:” while some objectives were met, the PTF assessment showed that non-compliance was rampant but the PTF nevertheless continued to persuade the populace through its messaging and daily briefing, on the need to take responsibility”.

Mustapha said that this would be accompanied by a corresponding development of infrastructure and other public health measures to be undertaken in every community and at every phase of the response.

According to him, these include: surveillance, case finding, testing, isolation, tracing and quarantining contacts.

“The measures, exemptions, advisories and scope of entities allowed to reopen under phase one of the eased locked down, shall be maintained across the federation for another two weeks effective from midnight today May, 18 2020 to June, 1, 2020.

“Intensifying efforts to “tell (communicate), trace (identify) and treat (manage)’ cases; elevating the level of community ownership of non-pharmaceutical interventions and maintain the existing lockdown order in Kano for an additional two weeks.

“Imposition of precision lockdown in states, or in metropolitan/high-burden LGAs, that are reporting a rapidly increasing number of cases, when the need arises.

“This would be complemented with the provision of palliatives and continued re-evaluation of the impact of the interventions.

“Aggressive scale up of efforts to ensure that communities are informed, engaged and participating in the response with enhanced public awareness in high risk states,” he stated.

He said that the PTF considered it important to let Nigerians know that it relied largely on science, statistics, lessons learnt from other parts of the world and an evaluation of the peculiar circumstances to draw its conclusions on the outcome of the last two weeks.

“For example, our surveillance, infection prevention and control activities identified nine high burden local government areas in the federation reporting high number of cases and accounting for 51 per cent of the total number of infections in the country.

“All the nine are densely populated local government areas nationwide.

“We have also seen that though Nigeria’s caseload still lags behind several other countries, our large population and relatively high degree of mobility and urbanization, 50 per cent, places us at an increased risk for high transmissibility.

“Therefore, our consideration of ease of restrictions has to balance lives and livelihoods and the slow and gradually phased approach should be science and data driven,” he noted.

He said, that in spite of the modest progress made, Nigeria was still not ready for a full reopening of its economy. “Gradual easing of lockdown is extended by additional two weeks”.

“Achieving the foregoing objectives was predicated on adherence to the guidelines issued by the PTF COVID-19, adaptation and cooperation by the States, ownership by communities as well businesses, professional bodies, labour leaders, faith-based organisations, traditional rulers and particularly, individuals taking responsibility.

“The PTF continued to assess the level of compliance with the guidelines which came into effect on May 4, 2020.

“While emphasising ownership, we consistently shared some aspects of the assessment during our daily national briefings pointing in the general direction of non-compliance,” he said.

The SGF said nevertheless, the task force was pleased that the measures put in place yielded sufficient progress that requires consolidation to ensure that the health system and economy were in a position to adequately respond to any potential outcomes in the future; including a secondary outbreak.

He said that the gradual re-opening of the economy has been sign-posted by the controlled opening, and increased access to markets and supermarkets, banks and other income yielding activities for the vulnerable population.

Mustapha said similarly, corporations and government offices partially opened their operations and services so as to facilitate the activities of other sectors.

He noted that some manufacturing, construction and allied sectors also resumed.

“All these sectors ensured that adequate infection mitigation measures were put in place,” he said.

Mustapha said that in recognition of the global impact of COVID-19 on economies and the need to stimulate and positively turn around the Nigerian’s economy, the Federal Government has been implementing various stimulus packages offered to businesses and state Governments through the CBN.

“Reduction of interest rates from nine percent to five percent for all CBN intervention facilities,

“Restructuring of loans to longer tenors for all companies whose businesses are adversely impacted by COVID-19.

“N50 billion facilities to household and businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19 through NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank.

“N100 billion facility to Pharmaceutical and health sectors companies to retool their businesses.

“N1 trillion facility to Agric and Manufacturing companies to expand and set up new factories.

“Suspension of repayment of all state governments’ loans for one year to give states ample financing room to pay salaries,” he stated.

The SGF said that within the two weeks of phase one of the eased lockdown, the following accomplishments were also recorded:

“Increase in the number of laboratories in the COVID-19 network from 15 to26

“Additional 15, 558 tests were conducted in the country with a cumulative total of 35,098 tests and the number of tests per million increasing from 50 to 154.

“Increase in the number of trained personnel to 11, 409 health workers thereby boosting capacity for case management.

“Procurement and distribution of additional personal protective equipment and ventilators across the country.

“The doubling time of the virus has slowed down from seven days to 11 days;

“The number of beds available for isolation and case management increased from 3, 500 to 5, 000 beds nationwide.

“The efficiency of the identification, testing, evacuation, and isolation process for confirmed cases has increased; and progressive improvement in capacity of the health system to respond to the outbreak,” he stated.

The SGF said that the PTF-COVID-19 remained highly appreciative of the efforts of the private sector, public spirited Nigerians, corporate organisations, the armed forces, intelligence and security community, the media, as well as the International Community for their unquantifiable support in the battle against the COVID-19.

“The response has been overwhelming and encouraging. The office of the Accountant General of the Federation introduced the transparency dimensions in the management of certain components of financial donations by publishing the receipts in the newspapers.

“In addition, explained the processes for other components so that Nigerians can be assured that accountability remains the hallmark of this administration and the PTF.

“All monies donated are safe and secure and would be judiciously utilised and accounted for,” he noted.

The SGF said that arriving at the final recommendations to Mr President, the PTF objectively and frankly interrogated certain critical factors and wish to inform Nigerians as follows:

“The transmission of the virus under control: Measures put in place have collectively slowed down the transmission of the Virus e.g. elongating the doubling time which has changed from seven to 11 days.

“The healthcare system equipped to detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every person who came in contact with a positive case.

“Health care system has been better equipped to detect, test, isolate and treat every case, and trace every person who came into contact with a positive case with the increase in the number of laboratories from 15 to 26; ramping up of testing to a cumulative total of 35,098.

“Are outbreaks minimized in special settings like health facilities and Nursing homes?

“Though we have recorded infection of a number of medical personnel in our facilities, which is not peculiar to Nigeria, we have increased their training in care management and provided additional Personnel Protective Equipment.

“Are there measures in workplaces and schools to prevent the spread of the virus?

“With the gradual reopening of workplaces, markets, schools, etc, prescriptions have been made for the prevention of infection and spread of the virus.

“Are the risks of importing more cases from outside the country being managed?

“The risks associated with importation has been seriously minimized with the ban on flights, closure of borders and the mandatory 14 days quarantine for any one arriving Nigeria.

“Are local communities educated, engaged and empowered to adjust to the ‘new norm’”

“Engagement with communities and other stakeholders has now become the new focus of our strategy,” he stated.

Mustapha added that the inevitable conclusion of the PTF, was that the fight against COVID-19 is long term as the virus is not likely to go away very soon.

He noted that this was further underscored by the fact that no vaccine is expected till around the end of 2021.

“Nigeria is not where we wish to be in terms of control, ownership, infrastructure and change of behavior. We must do more.

“We hinted about the refocusing of our policy on community ownership. Going forward, we shall intensify the mobilization of individuals, especially the communities to take ownership of this fight,” he said.

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Gov. Dapo Abiodun, who made this known while addressing journalists in Abeokuta, said it had become imperative to extend the lockdown as a means to save lives.

The extension, however, is contrary to the expectation of residents who had thought the lockdown would be eased after on Sunday.

According to the governor, people have shown disregard to laid down precautions against the pandemic, hence the need to take more drastic actions.

“My dear people of Ogun State, while I am not a prophet of doom, I will rather err on the side of responsibility.

“Reports reaching us have shown that many of our people are showing utter disregard for the precautionary guidelines, international best practices and safety measures rolled out, especially, during the window of relaxation of the lockdown.

“We have heard and seen the havoc that COVID-19 continues to wreck in other lands. Let us learn from these experiences,” he said.

Abiodun said that the lockdown which would continue for another week is subject to review on a weekly basis, while the windows of relaxation remains.

He added that the daily curfew and ban on non-essential of inter-state travel as directed by President Mohammadu Buhari still stands.

“Now, to preserve the lives of our people, we are persuaded to extend the current modified lockdown, which has been slightly eased, for another one week alongside the current guidelines.

“Windows of relaxation will continue to be available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 7.00a.m to 5.00p.m on each day of the relaxation.

“Wearing of a face mask is mandatory. It is important to note that we have provided, and continue to provide, facemasks to public servants, groups and association,” Abiodun said.

The governor, however, assured people of the state not to panic as efforts are ongoing to widen the coverage of the testing process just as contact tracing capacity have been intensified.

“As at today, we have screened over 10,000 people and tested over 700. In addition to that, we have intensified our contact tracing capacity and have traced over 551 contacts of the COVID-19 positive patients.

“We are doing this to detect and treat people who are already infected rather than leaving them undetected which will be more detrimental because this will increase community transmission,” he added.

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The president, who made this known in a nationwide broadcast in Abuja, however, said the current lockdown would remain in place until these new ones come into effect on May 4.

Buhari also announced an overnight curfew from 8 p.m to 6 a.m, saying all movements will be prohibited during this period except for essential services.

“Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Monday, 4th May, 2020.

“However, this will be followed strictly with aggressive reinforcement of testing and contact tracing measures while allowing the restoration of some economic and business activities in certain sectors.

“Furthermore, new nationwide measures are to be introduced as follows;

“There will be an overnight curfew from 8 p.m to 6 a.m. This means all movements will be prohibited during this period except for essential services;

“There will be a ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel until further notice;
“Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services will be allowed for the movement of goods and services from producers to consumers; and

“We will strictly ensure the mandatory use of face masks or coverings in public in addition to maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene.

“Furthermore, the restrictions on social and religious gatherings shall remain in place. State Governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens.”

According to the president, the revised guidelines will not apply to Kano State where strange disease has been reported recently.

He said: “With regards to Kano, I have directed the enforcement of a total lockdown for a period of two weeks effective immediately.

“The Federal Government shall deploy all the necessary human, material and technical resources to support the State in controlling and containing the pandemic and preventing the risk of further spread to neighbouring States.”

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Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Adesina said the president would make the broadcast at 8 p.m today (April 27).

“Television, radio and other electronic media stations are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), respectively, for the broadcast,” he said

Recall that the president had earlier addressed the nation in March and on April 13 where he announced measures.

The steps included lockdown of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun States to contain the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Our correspondent observed that the additional 14-day lockdown extension in FCT, Lagos and Ogun will expire by 11 p.m on April 27.

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The strict rules on social contact – including instructions to only spend one hour outside per day and not further than 1 km from your home were also extended.

The rules had been in place since March 17.

This is coming as the number of people being treated in intensive care went down for the fifth day in a row on Monday

After May 11, Macron said the fight against the virus would enter “a new stage.” After this date, there could be a gradual reopening of nurseries and educational institutions.

By then he said France should be able to test everyone who presents symptoms of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Macron thanked those who have kept to the rules, and expressed sympathy for those who are having to exist in small apartments.

He acknowledged that France had not been adequately prepared for the rapid onslaught of the disease.

French authorities have talked about a “high plateau” when it comes to the coronavirus outbreak.

France has seen about 15,000 deaths so far. The number of people being treated in intensive care went down for the fifth day in a row on Monday.

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The couple had admitted guilt before Chief Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa during arraignment.

Aje-Afunwa also imposed a fine of N100,000 on each of them and ordered that each of them should be isolation for 14 days.

The chief magistrate had stood down the case after the couple pleaded guilty.

She imposed the sentence when proceedings resumed more than an hour later.

Aje-Afunwa while giving her verdict described their actions as reckless.

Funke Akindele and Husband arraigned in Court

“The defendants shall pay a fine of N100,000 within three days from today. They are to serve community service for a period of 14 days – for three hours from 9am-12pm daily – excluding Saturday and Sunday.

“The community service shall be done in any public place in Lagos.

“The defendants shall be made to visit 10 important public places in Lagos State to generate awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of non-compliance with the laws created to curb the spread of the disease.

“In order to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread, the defendants shall be immediately held in isolation for 14 days in a place only known to the Lagos State Ministry of Health,” she held.

In the charge preferred by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, the couple committed the offence on Sunday on Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki.

”You, Funke Akindele and Abdulrasheed Bello, on the fourth day of April 2020, at 9 Gbadamosi Close on Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki in the Lagos Magisterial District, gathered at the aforementioned address with over 20 persons, contrary to the social distancing directive of Mr Governor of Lagos State, made pursuant to Regulation 8 (1) (a) and (b) and 17 (1) (I) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 58 of the Public Health Law of Lagos State,” prosecution stated in the charge sheet.

NEWSVERGE recall that the police had on Sunday arrested Ms Funke Akindele-Bello for organising a party which violated social distancing regulation of the Lagos State Government.

The regulation is to check the spread of Coronavirus.

“The attention of state police command was drawn to a viral video showing large number of persons mainly in the entertainment industry on an estate in Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki axis.

“They were celebrating a birthday party organised by Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband.

“Police detectives from the state CID, Yaba, were promptly drafted to the location and Akindele was arrested,’’ the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, had said in a statement.

He said that efforts were being intensified to arrest the remaining persons in the video, among whom are Azeez Fashola (a.k.a Naira Marley) and Abdul Rasheed Bello a.k.a. JJC Skillz.

The police spokesman had advised those involved to report at the CID Yaba on Monday in their best interest or risk being declared wanted.

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It was reported that the lockdown of businesses and stay at home order was part of the government measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Mr Kamal Jaylomi, a poly product trader at the Alaba Suru Lagos market said that he could not cope with the lockdown.

Jaylomi, a father of four said the situation could be likened to war period without basic necessities to support citizens and households, saying that many “go to bed with their stomachs empty.”

“The situation is a horrifying one where a father will be staring at his children die of hunger. How long are we going to stay in this kind of hunger, solitude and deprivation?

“Today is just the second day into the 14 days of lockdown that began before the state’s own elapsed and hunger is on the face of everybody in town,” he said.

Mr James Osamade, a Real Estate Consultant said that for government to continue to ensure the success of the stay at home order, there should be provision of relief items to the people.

“Hunger is capable of killing more people in the country than the COVID-19 disease as people before the order do not have enough money to stock food and basic needs to last them for the lockdown period.

“The state should put aside every formality that is delaying relief materials from getting to the masses because the situation out there is biting.

“In as much we are trying to solve one problem, we should not create another in the process as it will defeat the purpose of the whole thing.

“Nigerians are hungry and the only way to make people to stay at home to enable government manage the coronavirus pandemic is by providing them with basic needs to cushion in the social effect,” he said.

Mrs Bolanle Jinadu, a social worker with the Nigeria Red Cross said the situation called for patience on the part of the people to help the state to be effective in controlling the pandemic.

Jinadu said that both the government and donor agencies would soon come with the aids for the masses.

She said that logistics was being worked out to mitigate the hardship in the land.

It was reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, in a state broadcast on Sunday ordered total cessation of movement in Lagos, the Federal Capital and Ogun to forestall further spread of coronavirus in the country.

The country has recorded over 131 cases, discharged eight infected persons after treatment and two have died.

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