The management of the University of Lagos, Nigeria (UNILAG) has ordered students to vacate hostels beginning, Thursday, July 15, 2021, over the resurgence of COVID-19 on the university campus.
This decision was reached at an emergency Senate meeting held on Wednesday. The students have also been directed to move out their belongings and vacate the halls of residence latest by 12.00 noon on Thursday, July 15, 2021.
There were fears in the university community on Tuesday after a number of students contracted the virus. The development led the school management to convey an emergency Senate meeting on Wednesday.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Senate said the students who tested positive are being treated, and contact tracing is already in place.
“The situation is, indeed, worrisome especially noting the reluctance of the majority of students to comply with the COV1D-19 prevention protocols,” the statement read.
“To avoid the escalation of cases on campus, the University Senate at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, 14th of July 2021 approved that all students vacate the halls of residence by 12.00 pm on Thursday indefinitely. Lectures for the rest of the semester will continue to be delivered virtually with effect from 26th July 2021.”
“The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu, in his press statement issued on July 11, 2021, stated that since the beginning of July there has been a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1% at the end of June 2021, to its current rate of 6.6% as at the 8th of July 2021. This is with a concurrent increase in the occupancy rate at Lagos State isolation centres.
The Governor assured citizens that “the Medical Centre will also return to providing EMERGENCY ONLY SERVICES during this period, in order to protect all members of the community from potential infection within the facility. The Medical Centre Emergency Contact line: 09095879781 remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”