Ilorin
Kwara State Government has directed residents to patronise neighbourhood shops and observe all safety protocols to guard against the spread of Covid-19 in the state.
The Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Technical Committee on Covid-19, Mr Kayode Alabi, gave the directive while briefing newsmen in Ilorin on Tuesday while reviewing the earlier directive of Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
It was to allow people purchase food and other essential thngs during Coronavrus pandemic.
“Last week, the Kwara State Technical Committee announced some measures to enable people go out to get food and other essentials on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
” In handing down these measures, the government called for respect for social distancing and other safety protocols.
“We experimented with the measure on Monday and observations were made. Accordingly, the committee is making the following adjustments” he said.
Alabi said marketers might wish to set up shops in schools and open spaces in their neighbourhood’ between 8 a.m and 12pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“The review means that commercial and private vehicles are now barred from operating, except trucks and trailers conveying food stuffs, medicines and other essential services earlier exempted by the government in its effort to contain COVID-19.
“For emphasis, except as stated above, all vehicular movements are banned including on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays that markets are to open. People are encouraged to patronise markets in their neighbourhood.”He said
“COVID-19 is an emerging public health development across the world and governments are studying situations and making adjustments to cope with the emergency,”
He, however, said all congregational prayers remain banned.
Also speaking on cases of COVID-19 recorded in the state he said “Kwara now has four cases of COVID-19. They are two males and two females. We have carried out 42 tests, 29 of which were negative. We are waiting for nine results.
“We have four confirmed cases three of them show no symptoms, only one is showing some symptoms but is stable. Of the four cases, one is a contact of the index case.the other was a patient at the UITH but now at the state’s isolation centre.”
He expressed concern over risk of community transmission of the pandemic disease but stressed that the scourge must be curtailed.
” The good news is that, our rapid response team is in firm control of the situation, thanks to the support of the NCDC team, led by Dr Shuaib Belgore and the COVID-19 Committee.”
