Federal Government has reviewed the nationwide curfew imposed to checkmate spread of coronavirus from 12am to 4am.

National Coordinator of  Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19, Mr Sani Aliyu, disclosed this during a briefing at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday.

He said: “I will first of all start with general movement. We are modifying the curfew to commence from 12 midnight to 4am nationwide, effective from 12:00 tonight.

“This does not apply to people on essential services and international travellers that might be returning from abroad.”

Federal government has also asked school administrators to start preparing for full reopening of schools.

Aliyu, who directed them to conduct risk assessment, said the reopening would be done in phases.

“For educational institutions which include daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, they should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase,” he said.

“However, we strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess, create, and monitor this level of preparedness.

“Meanwhile, daycare centres should remain closed until this level of risk is assessed. If there will be opening of schools, it must be in stages and preferably carried out in phases to ensure that this does not pose a risk to the public and in particular to vulnerable groups that might end up getting infected by students going back home.”

Federal government had ordered a nationwide closure of schools in March to check spread of Covid-19.

But in July, government approved reopening of schools for students who are currently sitting for West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

TheCable/Nation