Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has announced a
partial relaxation of the state lockdown to tackle COVID-19 pandemic, which
included weddings and burial ceremony, with strict observance of social
distancing rules.
While thanking the citizens, security agencies and other
stakeholders for the contribution to the appreciable success and gains of the
28-day lockdown, Okowa said in a broadcast in Asaba on Tuesday that the ban on
certain public gatherings like sports and religious congregation as well as
mass movement in vehicles would still be in force.
Schools are to remain closed for at least one more month
while the ban on inter-state movement, other than for specified essential
services as announced last Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari, would be
strictly enforced in Delta State, the governor added.
Okowa, who reiterated the readiness of his administration to
continue to tackle the challenge posed by coronavirus frontally and
proactively, said: "We have every reason to believe that the lockdown has
helped to limit the spread of the virus in our state. As at today, six cases of
COVID-19 have been recorded, while five of the patients are doing well in our
case management centres. Sadly, we lost one of them who presented himself late
to the medical authorities; his test report, which turned out to be positive,
was received after his unfortunate demise.
"The period of the lockdown, which is to enable us
break the chain of transmission, also gave us the leeway to easily trace,
identify, isolate and test contacts of infected persons.
"In view of the foregoing, it has become necessary to
partially lift the ban on movements within the state effective from April 30,
2020. This is to enable our people engage in economic/business activities
between the hours of 6a.m. and 7p.m., as security agencies will be on hand to
ensure strict compliance with the time frame."
According to the governor, "Conferences, sporting
activities, gathering of people in convention/event centres, sports fields,
public/open spaces as well as recreational and cultural/communal activities
remain banned until May 31, 2020.
"While burials and weddings will be allowed, the social
distancing rule (6ft apart) must be applied, and the number of guests/persons
must not exceed 50. Our schools (public and private) shall remain closed until
May 31, 2020.
"Entertainment centres, including cinemas, bars and
night clubs, shall remain closed until May 31, 2020.
Restaurants/canteens/beer parlours are to operate on
take-away basis while hotels will be allowed to open (with in-room dining) but
their restaurants, bars and night clubs shall remain closed till further
notice.
"While public transport services (tricycles taxis,
buses) are allowed to operate, number of passengers shall be two persons at the
back for tricycles; one person on the front seat and two persons at the back
for a taxi; while for a 16-seater/18-seater bus, it is 10 to 12 persons.
"Also, our airports remain closed to passenger traffic
till further notice.
"I shall be meeting with our religious leaders on April
30 to chart the way forward for our places of worship. However, all
crusades/conventions shall remain banned till further notice.
"For the public service, only workers on Grade Level 12
and above should resume work effective from April 30, 2020. This order does not apply to junior
staff on essential/emergency duties.”
Okowa added that: “Workers identified by the ministry of
Health or its agencies can work from home. However, workplace protocols should
be in place for disease surveillance/prevention, including screening, use of
face masks and social distancing.
"Let me reiterate that security agencies have been
advised to ensure strict compliance with the above directives. Violators will
be prosecuted, without fear or favour.
"Henceforth, it is mandatory for all residents in the
state to make use of face masks in the public. Anybody leaving his/her home
must wear a face mask effective from April 30 till further notice. They must be
worn in public places, including offices, markets, malls, supermarkets, salons,
hospitals and health clinics, churches, mosques as well as all approved
gatherings of persons.
"Traders/market women are all required to wear face
masks while carrying out their businesses. The local government chairmen are
hereby directed to work out the modalities for the operations of the markets in
their domain, especially with regards to social distancing and other sanitation
protocols.
"Hair dressing/barbing salons must never be crowded;
owners are hereby directed to restrict the number of persons inside to a
minimum number that will facilitate appropriate social distancing. As much as
possible, workers in these establishments should wear hand gloves.
"The state government will by tomorrow, commence, in
the first instance, the distribution of a million cloth face masks to residents
in the state, using the local government offices as channels. Meanwhile, those
who can afford it are also advised to make their own procurements. The benefit
of the cloth facemasks is that they can be washed and reused.
"There will be a continuation of the inter-state
lockdown for another two weeks. Only essential supplies-food, beverages,
medicals, pharmaceuticals, petroleum and agricultural products-are exempted
from this order.
"As we engage our new normal, I assure all Deltans and
residents that we shall continue to put processes in place to limit the
transmission of the virus by ensuring rapid identification of cases and
contacts, more testing, isolation/quarantine as necessary, staff
training/motivation and provision of logistics/supplies.”
Okowa, who urged the people to adhere to the stay-at-home
order and observe personal hygiene and social distancing rules, sued for the
use of the phone and electronic media as
alternative to physical movements and visits.
"As at today, we have a low virus spread in the state
and our health system can be said to be in a state of readiness with the health
staff fully committed and motivated to discharge their responsibilities in a
professional, ethical and safe manner.
"As we begin to ease the lockdown restrictions, the
sensible approach is to do it in a gradual, systematic and orderly manner, so
that we do not wipe out the gains of the past four weeks. We are very mindful
of the fact that each day of the lockdown was tough economically and
particularly agonising for those in the informal sector who live on daily
income."
Okowa said that food had been distributed to the poor and
vulnerable citizens in the 270 wards in the state by the government "to
mitigate the harsh economic effects of the lockdown", thanking the donors
for the kind gesture.
He further solicited the continued cooperation and support
of the people to stop the spread of the COVID-19. "As we gradually relax
the restriction of movement, I must caution that it is not yet uhuru; life as
we have known it is still a long way off. We must therefore brace ourselves up
to adjust to the new normal in all our personal, official and business dealings
going forward. As an administration, we remain irrevocably committed to doing
everything necessary to protect the lives and property of citizens in the
State, in addition to providing a safe and secure environment for them to
pursue their dreams of success and happiness
"If you fall sick with fever, cough and/or
breathlessness, please do not panic. Call the Local Government Chairman, Councillor,
Executive Secretary or Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer in your
Local Government Area. You can also call the Emergency Operation Centre on
these numbers: 0803-123-0480; 0803-123-0481; 0803-123-0528;
0803-123-0529."
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