As part of the preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus, the Lagos Government has announced the closure of public and private schools in the state starting from Monday, March 23rd, 2020.

The Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo in a statement on Wednesday, said the move is part of measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

READ ALSO: Nigeria confirms first case of coronavirus in Lagos

“The move becomes necessary to prevent our children and their teachers from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic,” the state read partly.

The Commissioner urged parents to ensure that their children practice social distancing while at home, as well as personal hygiene such as washing their hands.

She added that “The closure is not intended to create panic” but to serve as a means of curbing the disease, assuring that the Lagos State Government will continue to trace “all contacts of the identified cases.”

The Lagos State Government is therefore encouraging anyone who has information about suspected cases to report to the nearest hospital or call  the emergency telephone numbers 08023169485, 08033565529, 08052817243 and 08023401214.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Lagos State Government suspended religious gatherings of over more than 50 persons following a meeting of stakeholders.

The suspension would last for four weeks, with a necessary review carried out if need be.

Nigeria recorded five new cases of the disease with the country also restricting travels to thirteen nations in the wake of the development.

Juliet Ekwebelam