Secretary to the Government of the Federation and PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, during a briefing on Monday in Abuja expressed concern on the reopening of schools based on the fact that the school system remains a veritable ground for increasing community transmission if appropriate protocols are not put in place.
He then advised stakeholders in the education sector to ensure that schools adhere to all COVID-19 prevention protocols as the open for exit classes.
The PTF’s national coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu said at a PTF press briefing in Abuja that the COVID-19 test result is only valid for that point in time when the swab was taken, and so, instead of compulsory tests, it is far more important to monitor for symptoms and check for the temperature to make sure that students that show symptoms seek medical attention.
The Presidential Task Force, therefore, asked students with symptoms of COVID-19 to stay at home as the resumption of SS3 exit classes begin this week nationwide.
The PTF also faulted the state governments that were asking students to produce COVID-19 tests results before resumption.
In preparation for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC), the SS3 students in Ogun and Benue will resume today, while their counterparts in Kano and Ekiti will resume on August 10.
Aliyu also announced that the PTF would on Thursday release new protocols in the next phase of efforts to curtail further spread of the virus in the country after its sixth interim report must have been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.
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