Cross River State COVID-19 Response On Resumption of Schools

The Government of Cross River State and the CRS COVID-19 Taskforce wishes to Thank Cross Riverians for keeping faith and complying with the guidelines to use face mask and other safety measures. However we are encouraged to improve our use of the face mask in public places. We thank all key stakeholders for their commitment as we continue the response to COVID-19 in Cross River state. 


As we are nearly seven months into the outbreak, different sectors of our system are beginning to reopen including our schools. As you are aware, students in the graduating classes have resumed and this will soon be followed by other classes. Our time-tested public health measures in preventing, detecting and responding to the outbreak are of paramount importance to prevent a surge in cases in this segment of our population. 



Thus, Cross River State Public Health Emergency Operation Centres response will be taking the following actions immediately; while we seek your cooperation for a seamless phase:

Chairman COVID-19 Taskforce Dr Betta Edu approves the Immediate integration of a representative from the State Ministry of Education as appointed by the Commissioner for Education to join the regular COVID-19 EOC meetings.

All schools should ensure students or pupils use face mask before they gain entry into the school premises 

Schools to provide hand washing Equipment and hand sanitizers for both staff and students.

Physical distancing must be adhered to at all times, with a two meters space between students in the classrooms. Schools are advised to spread students into other blocks where the students have not resumed. To ensure physical distancing.

The CRS Ministry of Health will Ensure the joint assessments and monitoring conducted with the State Ministry of Education team in line with the “Guidelines for Schools and Learning Facilities Reopening after COVID-19 Pandemic Closures”. This is very important as all monitoring Exercises in private and public schools Must be well-documented.


EOC to collate the list of all schools, addresses, contacts of the school heads and proprietors as well as the school population.

CRS COVID-19 Taskforce will Distribute contact details of the State Epidemiologist and Local Government Areas Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (LGA DSNOs) to all the School Heads for notification of alerts from the schools.

All schools will have access to IEC materials, staff and students can recognise symptoms of the disease and understand the reporting channels. (Risk Communication pillar to handle this)
All schools should maintain a daily attendance sheet for all staff and students.

Following the concluded training of the LGA Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), they have been mandated to sensitize and respond to alerts for investigation.

Rapid Response Team will ensure sample collection materials are stationed at each LGA. 

Rapid response team at LGA must ensure evacuation teams are in place to move suspected cases to holding areas and treatment centres.

Every school to use the protocols developed for notifying the State authorities.


We believe that these measures will help to prevent, promptly detect and respond to alerts of suspected cases in our schools.

Despatch by
Comrade Daniel Williams
Personal Assistant On New Media
To The Governor Of CRS