The Lagos State civil servants from grade level one to 12 will not show up at work for the next fourteen days.

This development followed a stay-at-home order issued by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday.

In his public address, the government said the order is part of measures being taken to forestall the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said “In addition to previous measures, I hereby direct that all public officers in the entire unified public service from grade level one to 12 which constitutes about 70% of our entire workforce should stay at home from Monday, March 23, 2020, for fourteen days at the first instance,” he told the press on Sunday.

“We’ll review this as time goes on. Members of the public are advised to refrain from visiting any of our physical offices and to transact such businesses as is possible on the phone or online channels.”

According to the governor, the stay-at-home order does not affect first responders whom he listed to include medical personnel, fire service officers, personnel of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and Lagos Waste Management Authority.

Sanwo-Olu said other patients have been evacuated from the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba.

He also said facilities are also being set up at the Gbagada General Hospital and five other locations around the state where confirmed cases can be treated.

The state has confirmed 19 cases of the coronavirus.

In total, 27 cases have been confirmed across the country.