Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger says the state government will liaise with Association of Fashion Designers to embark on mass production face masks to contain the spread of coronavirus.
He disclosed during a press conference after an expanded emergency council meeting on index record case of COVID19 in Minna on Saturday.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) had on Friday, announced an index case of coronavirus in Niger state.
Bello explained that in view of the difficulties in procuring the mask and its high cost, the government had liaised with tailors to commence mass production of face masks for easy purchase.
“We are liaising with our tailors to start developing locally made face masks.
“Although no complete evidence that face mask can prevent one from contracting the virus when a positive person sneezed and one is wearing the mask, it can prevent the spread of the disease.
” The idea is to reduce the spread when wearing a mask. People should also wash their hands with soap or use sanitizers to prevent the spread of coronavirus, ” he said.
The governor advised people of the state to wear the face mask before leaving their homes and observe social distancing.
He explained that government had activated the Social Rehabilitation Center for quarantine, as well as equipped isolation centre at Minna General Hospital to carter for suspected cases.
He, however, disclosed that the state government had begun distribution of palliative at ward level to support the less privileged.
(NAN)
