Abayomi: If you live in a crowded house, wear a mask to prevent COVID-19

Akin Abayomi, commissioner for health in Lagos state, has advised those who reside in crowded places to wear masks.

The government of Lagos has made wearing of masks in public places compulsory to limit the spread of COVID-19.

But at a press conference on Thursday, the commissioner said there is a risk of contracting coronavirus in rowdy places, hence the advice to those living in such places to wear masks.

“Regarding enforcement of the masks, it’s been made mandatory by the governor and law enforcement agents have the authority to enforce the wearing of masks in public places,” he said.

“Now, if you’re alone in your car, you’re not in a public place. But if there are other people in that car with you, then you are in a public place. If you’re in your house, you’re not in a public place. But if your house is crowded, then we advise that you also wear a mask inside that residential area.

“So, our advice to everybody is in public, please, put on your masks. You will be stopped from entering certain places if you’re not wearing a mask and if you’re stopped by law enforcement agents, they have the authority to challenge you as to why you’re not wearing a mask.”

Abayomi added that the state is about regularising home isolation and treatment for COVID-19 patients in the state.

The commissioner said the state is hoping to make home care, especially those with mild symptoms of the infection.

“There are people who are already practising self/home-isolation on their own, because we can’t find them, the numbers they give us, maybe they are false or they don’t answer their phones. When you go out to pick them at their residences, they have absconded their residences. So, they are isolating themselves in different places,” he said.

“In effect, the concept of home-isolation is being practised by many Nigerians, even though it is not yet a state or national practice.

“The people of Lagos are practising home isolation which is one of the reasons that we as the government are trying to transition to home care because it is happening anyway, we might as well regularise it and make it an official option.”

With 2,970 cases, Lagos has the highest number of COVID-19 patients in Nigeria.