’Tosin Oluwalowo
States have been mandated to conduct COVID-19 tests on their contingents for the 20th National Sports Festival 72 hours before their arrival in Benin City, Edo State for the event.
This was contained in a letter dated February 11 and addressed to Honourable Commissioners/Chairmen, States Sports Commissions/Heads of Sports Councils, which was signed by the Secretary of the festival’s Main Organising Committee, Peter Nelson.
The sports festival, which was initially billed to start today, was postponed after hosts Edo said they were not financially capable of hosting the event.
The National Council on Sports, after its meeting on Monday, arrived at a new date in April for the festival.
“I write to convey to you the decision of the meeting between the COVID-19 Response Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on the need to conduct COVID-19 tests on your state contingents participating at the 20th NSF.
“You are to liaise with your health counterparts and your State Commissioners of Health to ensure that your team are screened for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before departing for the Games in Benin-City, Edo State.
“Kindly note that evidence of COVID-19 negative test results of participants from respective states must be presented on arrival before they are screened with Rapid Diagnostic Test to detect the few cases that may turn positive,” the statement read.
The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government and the Edo State Government had made a joint proposal for the festival tagged Edo 2020 to be held from either April 8 to 22 or April 10 to 22.
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