The Ministry of Health has listed seven guidelines to be followed by all mass gatherings if they are to happen as preventative measures of the looming COVID-19.
The new guidelines that were issued this morning will affect all political events like rallies and national events, sporting events, prayer congregations, social and cultural events including burials and weddings.
These events will all be expected to go through an approval process from the Ministry of Health personnel or local authorities before proceeding.
As part of the requirements, Ministry of Health says all venues should have toilets or latrines with 1 stance for every 20 participants, hand washing facilities, waste management facilities, adequate ventilation with proper air circulation, health desk with Health workers to monitor the health safety standards, first aid kits and access to evacuation facilities like ambulances.
The Ministry of Health continues to be on high alert, with messages being put across all available platforms on COVID-19 to the public on how to prevent the virus including regular handwashing, no handshakes, avoiding large gatherings, covering the nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing and self quarantining from home when unwell among others.
The Ministry of Health also recommends that people with flu-like symptoms and who are unwell should stay at home and not be allowed to access premises for mass gatherings.
In Africa, a total of 9 countries including Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, SouthAfrica, Morroco, Cameroon, Tunisia, Togo, and Nigeria have all reported cases of the COVID -19 virus with over 100 people infected and 2 deaths recorded.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there were 109, 577 confirmed cases of the disease globally with some 3,809 deaths.
