…empowers tailors, seamstresses to mass produce locally made face masks
In order to increase COVID19 testing capacity in Lagos, the Lagos State Government has set up sampling stations in the 20 local government areas of the State where citizens that fit the case definition of COVID-19 can visit to drop samples for testing.
In order to increase COVID19 testing capacity in Lagos, the LASG has set up sampling stations in the 20 local government areas of the State where citizens that fit the case definition of COVID-19 can visit to drop samples for testing.
Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, who disclosed this on Sunday at while giving the situation report on COVID-19 at a press briefing in Lagos, noted that the strategy is geared towards bringing COVID-19 testing opportunity closer to the people.
He added that the idea is also aimed at taking the work strain off health workers who visit several LGAs for case search and sample collection, stressing that the new arrangement would provide an opportunity for people with symptoms to present themselves early for testing.
Said he ,”We have decentralized the locations where you can have yourself submitted for sampling and if you feel that you have any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, you can present yourself to these decentralized sampling stations”.
“They are not testing stations, they are sampling stations and If you meet the criteria for testing, you will be able to receive the counsel of the staff and your sample will be taken”.
While answering questions on the use of face masks for COVID-19 prevention, Abayomi disclosed that wearing of face masks do not protect against COVID19 infection but rather protect people around an infected person from increase in the amount of aerosol generated from coughing or sneezing.
“There is some theoretical evidence that the wearing of masks may indeed reduce the amount of droplets in the environment from the person that is infected and that is the reason why we are beginning to define the strategy of face masks for the general community”, he said.
Prof Akin Abayomi disclosed that the Governor of Lagos State, Jide Sanwoolu, has already given instructions that tailors and seamstresses should be commissioned to commence mass production of locally made face masks from a standard design that has been given to them.
He stated that the wearing of the home made mask is just to reduce the amount of droplets that may be produced and aerosolized through coughing and sneezing.
Prof Akin Abayomi, however, stressed that the State wasnot encouraging the public to go and purchase medical masks because it would deprive the medical community of the medical masks that they require for their professional activities.
