The Lagos State Government has stopped the reopening of worship centres initially scheduled for Friday, June 19 (mosques) and Sunday, June 21 (churches).

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the decision at a press briefing on Tuesday.

According to him, the development is as a result of the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state.

On Monday, Nigeria recorded a total of 573 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 16,658.

As has become normal, Lagos reported the highest figures with 216 new cases, bringing the total number of cases in the state 7,319.

Consequently, the state has remained the epicentre of infections in the country, closely followed by the FCT with 1,264 and Kano state with 1,158.

To curb further spread of the virus, the Federal Government had in March, imposed a lockdown on the three majorly affected states at the time (Lagos, Ogun State and the FCT).

Subsequently, other states began to impose varying degrees of curfews and governors eventually agreed on interstate lockdowns as they began to record new infections.

But weeks after the FG-Imposed lockdown, President Muhammadu Buhari announced again that there would be a gradual easing of the lockdown in order to allow economic activities resume as the country could not sustain an extended period of economic inactivity.

Hence, essential workers and other levels of workers have been allowed to resume so far, the government has still appealed to those who can afford to stay at home, to do so.

Reducing interpersonal contacts and maintaining social distancing of up to 2-3 meters is said to be one of the ways to curb the spread of the virus but that in itself has proven to be a difficult task for most Nigerians.

Other measures to stay safe include sneezing or coughing into your elbow, washing of hands regularly, use of alcohol-based sanitizers and wearing of face masks.

Till further notice, no worship centres will be allowed to open this Friday, June 19th.