Christmas, New Year Vigils In Ondo To Be Observed Under Covid 19 Restrictions |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

As countries are guarding against the second phase of Covid 19 lockdown, Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee on Coronavirus  insists that Churches can hold Vigils during Christmas and New Year Eve under strict adherence to Covid 19 guidelines.

The Committee   appealed for an improved level of compliance with the preventive measures against the pandemic as Christmas and New Year approach.

The Committee has also declared that vigils could take place in Worship centers on the night of 31st December 2020, provided that the mandated precautionary measures against  COVID-19 are fully complied with.

The Chairman of the Committee, and Vice Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, made the declaration in Akure, after the inter-ministerial Committee’s meeting.

He noted that as several countries are currently experiencing the second wave of the COVID-19, there is an urgent need to prevent any further increase in the number of cases in Nigeria through collective responsibility.

“It is necessary we continue to do our best to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus. It is a collective responsibility, particularly as we celebrate in this period.

“The second wave of COVID-19 pandemic is being experienced globally and a new round of lockdown is happening in several countries.

“The only way to avoid another  lockdown in Nigeria is for every individual to strictly adhere  to the preventive measures against the spread of the virus.”

The Chairman mandated  Churches, Mosques and other Worship centres to strictly ensure hand washing, social distancing, and proper use of face masks at all their services and set up internal enforcement teams that would help monitor and enforce adherence to the preventive measures stipulated by the Committee.