UNILAG asks students to vacate hostels over COVID scare

The management of University of Lagos has asked students to vacate hostels on campus over COVID concerns.

Daily Trust gathered that the decision was taken at a senate meeting which held on Wednesday.

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Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Vice-Chancellor, had summoned an emergency meeting over the potential third wave of COVID-19.

At the meeting, the management resolved to put lectures on hold till July 26, where it would continue through virtual means.

A student in the Department of Mass Communication confirmed to our reporter that the Dean of Students Affairs has directed them to vacate the campus and that lecturers would continue online.

The University had earlier confirmed that the medical centre had recorded an increase in the number of patients with COVID-19 symptoms.

“The University of Lagos Medical Centre wishes to inform all members of the University of Lagos Community about what appears to be the start of a potential 3rd wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Lagos State.”

“The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. 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 University of Lagos community has also been affected by this potential 3rd wave, with an increase in the number of patients presented to the University of Lagos Medical Centre with flu-like symptoms which are similar to COVID-19.

“The Medical Centre hereby assures all members of the University community, that all necessary actions in line with the Federal and Lagos State Government guidelines have been taken regarding this potential threat in our community.

“Despite this threat to the return of normalcy, pursuit of education and daily livelihood, it has become imperative once more to judiciously adhere to the following COVID-19 guidelines and protocols in order to curb the spread of this disease,” the centre had said in a statement.