Following the discovery of five fresh cases of coronavirus in Nigeria, there are indications that the Lagos State government is making moves to discourage public gatherings, especially Friday and Sunday religious services in mosques and churches.

Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, stated this on Wednesday at a briefing.

He said the religious leaders will be advised to shut down services in the interest of the public.

He said this a few hours after Lagos recorded its seventh coronavirus case.

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“We are all aware that the Federal Government asked the National Youth Service Corps to shut down orientation camps; yesterday (Tuesday) the Commissioner for Home Affairs said there will be a meeting with religious leaders today (Wednesday).

“It is going to be suggested to them to maybe stop Friday and Sunday services – wherever we have large gatherings.

“Going by the new development, I am sure they will be advised to shut down the services in the interest of the public and all of us. I am sure they are going to comply,” Omotosho said.

Consequently, the government is holding a close door meeting with the religious leaders in the state with a view to seeking their understanding on the new development, saying that public gatherings must be discouraged and stopped in the state. Hence, it has postponed its stakeholders meeting on coronavirus scheduled for LTV8 Blue Roof and other events.

This was even as the state Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi said that out of eight cases of the coronavirus in the state, it could only confirm seven while the other one is not within it’s jurisdiction.

WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that with the five new cases of coronavirus in Nigeria, the total number of confirmed cases is eight.

It was learnt that three arrived from the US (two of them Nigerians, a mother and her six-week-old baby), two arrived from the UK (both Nigerians).

But the Commissioner, while speaking with Newsmen, said that one of the patients came into the country through the land border from Benin Republic.

He said that the self-quarantine guideline must be followed so to prevent the spread of the pandemic, adding that the state would be forced to enforce the principle if some refuse to follow the guidelines.