Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma has ordered complete lockdown
of the state as part of measures to prevent the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19)
disease from entering the state.
Uzodinma gave the order in a state broadcast pennultimate
Saturday in Owerri.
He said the move was in line with his commitment to
protect the lives of the people of the state.
The governor ordered that all markets be closed
indefinitely and also prohibited all forms of marriage ceremonies.
He also announced the ban on burial and funeral
ceremonies and declared that all forms of religious worships in churches and
mosques, including crusades and open evangelism were prohibited.
Uzodimma further directed that road blocks be mounted at
all land borders into the state to ensure those coming in would be screened and
given a clean bill of health by officials attached to the check points, before
allowed entry.
He also directed all civil and public servants in the
state, except those on approved essential duties, to stop work immediately.
He said a combined team of military, police and other
security agencies would be deployed to the streets to ensure strict compliance
with the directives.
The governor, however, noted that though the new measures
might cause some inconveniences or hardship to the people, they were inevitable
to assure success in the fight against COVID-19.
The governor assured the people that the state was ready
for any emergency as according to him, “a team of specialist doctors are
now on ground and well equipped to handle any emergency just in case the virus
finds its way into the state.”
Further measures announced by the governor to contain the
virus included, training of health educators to go to rural communities to
educate them as well as the distribution of hand sanitisers to all the
communities in the state.
Uzodimma stated that these measures would be reviewed on
weekly basis and if it became necessary to relax them or take more measures,
the government would act accordingly.
The governor who assured that his administration would be
at its best toward surveillance, prevention and control, called for vigilance
and strict adherence to safety norms.
“I wish to reiterate my earlier advise that the best
safety measures against the disease are social distancing, regular washing of
hands with soap, sanitising our hands regularly as well as periodic check of
body temperature to be sure that it is not above 38 degrees Celsius.” he
said.
While acknowledging that the number of those infected by
the disease in the country is on the increase, Uzodimma said it had become
expedient for government to take further measures to ensure that Imo was safe
from the Coronavirus pandemic.
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