By Emma Ogbuehi
The Lagos State government has further eased restrictions on social and event centres across the state. The approval for the relaxation was given by the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu after due consultation and deliberations with relevant stakeholders, as well as Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), on Friday.
A release by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Yusuff, and the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, listed new guidelines which social and event centres must comply with, warning that any violation of the protocol would attract fines and penalties, in line with the Lagos State Infectious Diseases Control Regulation 2020.
They guidelines include: All event centres must hold a valid license of The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture prior to operating as an event centre in the State.
The must also be duly registered and verified on The Lagos State Safety Commission website www.lasgsafetyreg.com prior to holding any event.
An Event Safety Clearance must be obtained from the Lagos State Safety Commission through the website www.lasgsafetyreg.com for any proposed event or exhibition.
The guidelines further stipulate that Safety Marshals shall be deployed by an accredited event safety consultant from Lagos State Safety Commission for every social event with attendance exceeding over 200 people.
The rule also insists that Occupancy limit at any event must not exceed 50% of the maximum design capacity of the hall, adding that Occupancy Limit stickers provided by the Lagos State Safety Commission must be boldly pasted at the entrance of the event hall.
It stressed that maximum allowable capacity for Event Centres irrespective of occupancy limit is 500 people.
Equally, deep cleaning must be carried out before and after every event.
Physical distancing shall be maintained between seated guests and a maximum number of seated guests should be 6 (six) people on a table of 10 persons.
Event duration should not exceed a maximum period of 6-hours, the guideline stated. It adds that all guests and service providers at the facility must wear a nose mask and make use of hand sanitizers
All guests and service providers must endeavour to wash their hands before entering the venue or in the alternative use hand sanitizers. Temperature checks must be taken at all entry points into a facility.
Guests and service providers with temperature (above 37.5) are to be politely turned back and referred to paramedics or the emergency response team on ground.
Hand sanitizers must be positioned at the entry points and different spots within the hall.
All event centres must endeavour to display standard COVID-19 safety signs. The signs must be bold and installed at conspicuous locations.
Event centre owners/ planners/vendors would be responsible for any breach of protocols by their staff, it emphassed.