LASU postpones convocation indefinitely over coronavirus

The Lagos State University (LASU) has postponed its 24th convocation indefinitely over coronavirus. 

The postponement was announced in a statement by Ademola Adekoya, LASU coordinator, centre for information, press and public relations.

Adekoya said the event, scheduled to hold between March 20 and March 27, was postponed as a result of the prevailing health threat caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

He added that further information about the convocation ceremonies would be made available in due course.

“The Lagos State University Management hereby announces the postponement of the 24th Convocation Ceremonies of the University indefinitely. The Convocation Ceremonies were scheduled for Friday 20th to Friday 27th March 2020,” the statement said.

“The postponement is as a result of the prevailing health threats occasioned by Coronavirus pandemic and the resolution of the Federal and State Governments to discourage the gathering of people in public places at this point.

“The Management regrets every inconvenience this postponement might cause all our graduating students, awardees, family, friends and other stakeholders of the University.”

The state government had earlier placed a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people and announced the closure of schools from Monday to curb the spread of the virus.

Four new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in the country earlier in the day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 12.

According to Lagos ministry of health, the new cases were contacts of the five cases that were confirmed on Wednesday.

“What we have is a combination of imported cases and local transmission,” Akin Abayomi, the state commissioner of health, had said.

“There are four new cases. There are 11 total confirmed cases but we actually have 9 active cases because the index case is now negative.”

He also said the recent cases include a Nigerian female who returned from France via a Turkish airline (TK 1830) on March 14; a Nigerian in his 50s who did not travel out of the country, and another Nigerian male who arrived in the country on  March 13, from Frankfurt, Germany on Luftansa flight LH 568.

He added that contact tracing of over 1,300 persons in relation to the confirmed cases in progress.