The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has announced federal government’s approval for school proprietors to begin preparation for the full reopening of schools across the country.
National Coordinator of the PTF Dr Sani Aliyu, who announced this on Thursday, also conveyed the approval of the government for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to start working towards reopening of orientation camps nationwide.
Other approvals announced by Dr Aliyu include the adjustment of the nationwide curfew to between 12 midnight and 4am from 10pm to 4am as well as the reopening of amusement parks, gyms and cinemas at half capacity.
All these are part of the Phase III of the National Response to COVID-19 for a period of four weeks, effective from 12.01am on Friday, September 4, 2020.
In the case of schools including daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, he directed states to conduct risk assessment as the reopening would be done in phases.
“For educational institutions which. Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase.
“However, we strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess, create, and monitor this level of preparedness,” Dr Aliyu said, adding that daycare centres should remain closed until this level of risk is assessed.
“For the National Youth Service Corps, the NYSC is to consolidate on safety measures currently being put in place and start preparing for the reopening of orientation camps when educational institutions open.
“We are in the process of developing strict guidelines to ensure there is no outbreak of Covid-19 when this process starts,” he added.
The federal government had earlier approved the reopening of markets and worship centres.
