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Covid-19: Ogun extends weekend lockdown

…Says schools, worship centres remain closed

Ogun State Government has said there is lockdown on Saturday and Sunday across the state, notwithstanding the lifting of ban on interstate movement by the federal government.

The state said it will be cautious, focused and balanced in its approach and place highest priority on public safety over and above any other consideration in its efforts to flatten the curve of the dreaded COVID-19 virus in the State. 

The government said in a Press Release issued on Friday in Abeokuta by Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor Dapo Abiodun, that available data and opinions of experts continue to indicate that the fight against the virus is far from being won. 

gov. Abiodun

Part of the statement reads: “to date, a total number of 4,072 people have been tested out of which 898 tested positive. Amongst the positive cases, 609 have been successfully treated and discharged. Sadly, there have been a total of 19 deaths with 270 active cases. One of our border Local Governments is one of the Local Governments with the highest number of cases in the country because of the level of testing. 

“This high level of prevalence may also be obtainable in other Local Governments as we ramp up testing. All this emphasises the need for us to exercise high level of restraint as the State can neither afford more fatalities nor allow the rate of sickness to outnumber the capacity to manage the sick. Consequently, we are extending our current Phase of eased restrictions for another two weeks. As usual, we will continuously review and modify the guidelines in response to data from the field and expert opinions”, the state government said.

The state government also said it will study and monitor development on the recent lifting of ban on interstate travels by the federal government to determine its impact on the COVID-19 situation, adding that it will not hesitate to make appropriate adjustment, in consultation with the federal government. 

The state government reiterated in the statement that Schools are to remain shut, stating that a committee has been set up to engage all stakeholders – public and private school owners and develop guidelines for a safe reopening of our schools, especially to allow certificate classes to resume and write their examinations. 

According to the statement, “all five working days in the week (Monday to Friday) are still open for businesses and other economic transactions with only Saturday and Sunday as lockdown days; commercial activities are not permitted on weekends, churches and mosques activities will remain closed. Observation of dusk-to-dawn curfew as directed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) i.e. between 10.00pm and 4.00 am daily. Wearing of face masks in the public is still mandatory.

“Only one passenger is still allowed for motorcycles and two passengers only for tricycles. Taxi cabs and buses still have 60% limitation on their carrying capacity and the measure to arrest and impound any driver that contravenes this in our State is still in force. The COVID-19 Task Force in markets must continue to ensure physical distancing, availability of hand washing facilities, and use of gloves and facemasks for traders.

“Decontamination will continue in our markets and other public places. Limitation of all gatherings to a maximum number of 20 is still in effect. Gyms, event centres, cinemas, arcades, bars, casinos, nightclubs, swimming pools, barber-shops, spas, beauty Salons, and all public parks, including those in private residential estates, are still not allowed to operate. Restaurants are permitted to provide only take-away services and should also ensure that there are no more than 10-15 customers at a time with physical distancing measures in place. Guidelines for eat-in services are still being fine-tuned”

“ All industries in Ogun State must continue to comply with the “Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Workplaces in Ogun State to Combat COVID-19” as issued by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments. Therefore, testing of staff for COVID-19 in all industries in the State must be sustained. The Task Force set up to conduct random spot checks on the premises of the industries, restaurants and other business enterprises to confirm compliance is still in operation”, the statement said.

Other precautionary measures still in force in Ogun State, according to the statement are “funerals and wedding gatherings should not be more than 20 persons, including family members and officiating ministers/priests. There will still be restriction on sports and recreational activities; Bank/Financial Institutions are to continue their normal operations as allowed in Phase two.

editor

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