Kwara State Government yesterday announced total lockdown of the state in a renewed effort to contain the spread of Coronavirus. This occurred 48 hours after it took a similar step in Offa Local Government.
The government said violators of the pronouncement may face prosecution in line with the state regulations on the pandemic – except vehicles carrying goods and services such as food and drugs and categories earlier exempted in a recent address by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The administration also commended Abuja and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for their technical support, including recently helping to strengthen government’s response team and training of its LGA disease surveillance and notification officers (DSNOs) on COVID-19 preparedness, response and surveillance.
“The government hereby bans all vehicular movements, including private and commercial vehicles, from 6p.m. tomorrow, Friday 10 April, 2020,” Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19, Kayode Alabi said at a news briefing in Ilorin, the state capital.
“The only exceptions are commercial trucks carrying goods and services who would operate with absolute respect for social distancing and other COVID-19 safety protocols. All kinds of shops, bars, pubs, and markets are hereby shut until further notice. Markets where foods and medications are sold will open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between 10 a.m. and 2p.m.
“Contractors working on government projects are allowed to proceed to work with no more than 20 workers on site at one time.”
He said previous restrictions remain and would be enforced.
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Commending the Federal Government and the WHO, Alabi said the NCDC has sent down a crack team of experts to strengthen its capabilities to combat the spread of the virus.
“The government also hails the World Health Organisation for the recent training of our health officials across the 16 local government areas on community-level COVID preparedness, response and surveillance. All our LGA Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) are now back in their localities to do a step down training for community informants and focal persons,” he said.
Alabi also expressed strong disapproval of the alleged stigmatisation of COVID-19 patients or other persons and communities on account of their contacts with any patient.
He warned that anyone caught doing so may be prosecuted in line with the regulation and relevant laws.
Said he: “The government is dismayed by reports of some people stigmatising the families, relations and acquaintances of persons who have tested positive for COVID-19. This development is not only unhealthy but it is in fact inimical to the efforts to trace contacts and flatten the curve of transmission of the virus.
“As was aptly observed by His Excellency in his live press briefing of Tuesday April 8, the government repeats clearly that contracting COVID-19 is neither a death sentence nor a crime.”
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