Update: Markets to open for few hours daily during COVID-19 lockdown-FG

The Federal Government has announced that all markets in states observing the lockdown will be allowed for some time.

Lagos, FCT and Ogun will be allowed to open between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm daily.

The National Co-ordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Aliyu Sani, revealed this on Wednesday during a briefing by members of the task force.

“For markets, only shops and stalls selling food and groceries shall be allowed to open to customers between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm,” he said.

For supermarkets and food stores, their opening hours must be between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and all owners and managers should adhere to the warning of screening staff and customers before entry.

“On arrival, all staff must be screened for a high temperature and all those found to have a high body temperature above 38, will be denied entry and advised to seek immediate medical attention.

“All deliveries for supplies and products for these supermarkets must be made between the hours of 5:00 am and 9:00 am,” Sani added.

He further said that at any point in time, the total number of customers inside each store must not exceed a third of the store’s total capacity.

After their closure at 4:00 pm, Sani urged shop owners to ensure that all shelves, aisles and stores are cleaned and disinfected and by 6:00 pm, staff are to get back to their respective homes.

Meanwhile, few hours ago, Onyxnews Nigeria reported that NCDC has recorded new cases of coronavirus in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 23 fresh cases of the deadly virus, bringing the total number of the pandemic in the country to 174.

This online news understands that the fresh case of the COVID-19 was made known on Wednesday through NCDC verified Twitter handle.

Giving the update, NCDC tweeted, “Twenty three new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Nigeria – Nine in Lagos, seven in the FCT, five in Akwa Ibom, one in Kaduna and one in Bauchi State.

“As of 08:00 pm on 1st of April, there are 174 confirmed cases of #COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. Nine have been discharged with two deaths,” the centre tweeted.