Lagos state government has made wearing of face masks at public gatherings compulsory as part of efforts to rid the state of Coronavirus.
Governor Sanwo-Olu who gave the order, stated that the primary reason for wearing the facemask is to ensure that the droplets one secretes are not released into the environment, but rather absorbed by the face mask.
He noted that;
Complying with this directive will mean that we care about the wellbeing of others and are determined to protect them from getting infected by whatever may be within us.
This order by Lagos Government is in accordance with a mandate given by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.
The President had in a broadcast address yesterday approved the gradual and phased ease of the lockdown in FCT, Lagos and Ogun states starting May 4th.
It would be recalled that President Buhari ordered for a lockdown in these states which has been effective since March 30th.
This means some form of movement will begin to take place in Ogun, FCT and Lagos, which is the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria with over 700 cases.
Nevertheless, the President in his speech mandated that residents of these states to continue to maintain social distance, good hygiene, and use of facemasks in public places.
However, the supply of surgical masks is at a critical all-time low in the nation and the world as a whole.
And in order to conserve medically sophisticated masks like N95 and surgical masks for the frontline health works, Governor Sanwo-Olu approved to use of stylish and trendy local cotton fabric to produce masks.
According to scientists, fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies are exhausted or running low.
Against this backdrop, the Lagos state government in will be giving away 3million face masks. In addition to this, it has also released the correct sewing measurements for same, so as to help Lagosians make their own face masks at home.
Below is the official measurement released by the state government;
See official measurement below;
See Lagos state face masks prototype below;
