Edo Extends Curfew by 14 Days to Check Spread of COVID-19

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has extended the dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state by 14 days effective from April 30, 2020, as part of renewed measures to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Obaseki, who disclosed this during a press briefing at the Government House on Thursday,  said the extension of the curfew would further help the state government to restrict movement of persons to check the spread of the deadly virus.

The governor also expressed appreciation to the Edo people for their cooperation and compliance to the curfew in the last 10 days, adding: “I am extending the curfew in Edo State for another 14 days from 8p.m. to 6a.m.”

He disclosed that one Mrs. Amaka Okoro, a nursing mother, who lives at No. 2 Ator Idubor Street, off Second Ugbor, was wanted for treatment after she tested positive for COVID-19 and has since been unreachable.

The governor said Mrs. Okoro’s baby has already started coughing, urging those with useful information about her whereabouts to report to the relevant security and health agencies.

Noting that the extension of curfew will lead to more economic hardship, Obaseki said the state government has decided to commence another round of distribution of relief materials to the most vulnerable persons.

‘With the lessons which we have learnt from the first round of distribution, measures have been put in place to make sure that only the targeted persons receive these palliatives,” he added.

Obaseki also praised health workers on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 for their roles, noting: “I wish to specially thank our health workers who are making sacrifices for the benefit of all of us. In addition to the state-backed health insurance and life insurance packages which I have approved, I have also approved an additional hazard allowance ranging from N90, 000 to N300, 000 per month based on the cadre of all health workers currently actively joining us in the fight against COVID-19.”