Federal government instructs schools to conduct weekly Covid-19 risk assessment tests

NIGERIA'S federal government has directed all schools reopening on Monday next week across the country to conduct a weekly Covid-19 risk assessment tests on its pupils and staff to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Like most other nations, Nigeria shut down all her schools when the coronavirus pandemic broke out but with the easing of the lockdown, schools are to resume fully next week. On Monday September 21, all Nigerian secondary and primary schools but to ensure the virus does not spread, the government has introduced strict guidelines that have to be observed.

Apart from the fact that schools have to conduct weekly assessment tests, local and state governments are expected to conduct monthly and quarterly risk assessment in schools. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, said the assessment will determine the level of compliance by schools to Covid-19 guidelines such as hand-washing, the use of face masks and social distancing.

Like most countries worldwide, Nigeria has been hard hit by the pandemic, with a total of 56,735 cases, out of which there have been 1,093 casualties. Several industrialised nations including the US, the UK, China, Russia, France, Germany and Japan are involved in a vigorous race to produce a vaccine before the end of the year.