(Minna)
The Governor of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has directed students and workers to should remain at home with continued closure of schools and offices till further notice.
Duaglobalnews reports that the governor’s directive followed sudden increase in the number of Corona Virus (COVID-19) cases in the state lately.
Governor Bello gave the directive while speaking within a with newsmen in Minna after meeting with the state taskforce committee on COVID-19 Taskforce.
He noted that easing the lockdown had worsened the spread of CoronaVirus situation, adding that many residents no longer adhere or observe precautionary measures to check the spread of the novel virus.
Also worried by the development, especially within Minna, specifically Chanchaga area having the highest number, the Governor said schools could not be opened while some categories of workers were to remain at home.
He said, “Government has noticed with dismay that people no longer follow laid down protocols to check the spread of covid-19. Therefore, we will be reinvigorating the curfew earlier imposed between, 10p.m and 4a.m. Students are also to remain at home till further notice”.
The governor also directed security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of compulsory wearing of face masks in public places, stressing that defaulters should be prosecuted in mobile court.
Bello also directed that henceforth, all deaths must now be reported for proper medical inquiries before burials are done, to check dangers posed by those who died as a result of covid-19 complications unidentified.
He added that all social gatherings remained banned for now.
“Niger state as at today recorded 9 deaths out of 166 covid-19 cases while 113 others have been successfully recovered and discharged”, Bello said.
On the delay in distributing palliatives Bello said, “The distribution of COVID-19 palliatives will commence as soon as the supply of items are completed.
“We will contact COVID-19 Secretariat to see if they can give us permission to share the available items while waiting for the supply of the remaining balance”.
“The truth is that, we cannot touch anything from the storehouse where we keep all the food items without their permission. We only provided storage for the items as instructed and we do not have the right to do otherwise”.
Meanwhile, Niger State Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Dr. Muhammad Maku-sidi, has told journalists that 64 almajiris who had tested positive to corona virus had now tested negative and had been reunited with their parents.
Giving an update on the spread of coronavirus, the commissioner said: “We have so far got 166 positive COVID-19, cases, including almajiris. 1, 075 almajiris who were tested out of which 64 returned positive. The good news, however, is that they have all recovered and reunited with their families”.
“Those of them who are not indigenes of Niger state have been repatriated to their various states of origin.
” 1, 778 people had so far been tested in the state, out of which 166 were COVID-19 positive.
“As at today, we do not have any patient in any of our isolation centres, because we have discharged most of them while few others have been transferred out for more medical attention”.
The commissioner appealed to residents in the state to report all deaths so that their remains coukd be subjected to COVID-19 tests for the safety of their family and the general public before burial.
He expressed optimism that the state would soon overcome the challenge in testing people for the virus when the multi-purpose testing laboratory,under construction in Minna, is completed and put to use.
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