Clement Adeyi, Osogbo
In a bid to curtail the spread of the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world, the Osun State Government has placed a ban on gatherings of 50 or more persons in the same place.
The ban also affects all schools, churches, mosques, night clubs, sports arenas and other public places within the state.
Mr Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Osogbo, the state capital, said that the measure was with immediate effect and would be in place until further notice.
The government, which advised the citizenry not to panic, especially because no case has been recorded in the state so far, noted that it arrived at the decision it took after wide consultations with health professionals and stakeholders in the health sector over the COVID-19 palaver.
The government noted that the ban became necessary following Federal Government’s directive to ensure precautionary measures against the spread of the disease.
Besides, the government noted that the mere fact that few cases have been reported in its neighbouring states makes it imperative to act.
“As at 18th March 2020, the total number of cases as announced by the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, stands at eight with one of the five recent cases confirmed on Wednesday, in Ekiti State.
“According to Ekiti State Government, the American and his caregiver arrived Nigeria on 3rd March 2020 via the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and were driven by the confirmed case in Ekiti to the city of Ibadan. They were in Ibadan for two weeks and arrived Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, on 13th March 2020.
“Oyo State Government is now tracing the contacts of the Ekiti case. To not act now will be burying our heads in the sand. Osun is not an island and we as a government are aware of the sad stories of Covid-19 around us, from our neighbouring states and all over the world.
“Though we have not recorded any case of the deadly virus, as a responsible government, we must be prepared so that we are not taken by surprise. The corona virus scourge is a complex public health emergency, the type the world had never seen.
“Therefore, to protect our dear state, our children and our economy will require our collective response and sacrifice. Government at both state and local government levels will lead but we will all need to do our bit to get through this bad patch.
“As a responsible and responsive government that places premium on the well-being of its people, we will protect our citizens from potential and actual threats.
“We also urge our people to dedicatedly observe the precautionary protocols of thorough washing of hands with soap and clean water and the use of hand sanitiser; observing social distance and avoiding large gatherings and alerting the authority of any suspected case.
“Our Technical Action Committee is working round the clock to beef up the state’s capacity for epidemiological control and management. We therefore call on citizens not to give in to undue panic,” the statement added.