Godwin Udoh
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has partially relaxed the lockdown earlier imposed on the state on account of the ravaging Coronavirus, while all schools, conferences, sporting activities, gathering of people in convention/event centres, sports fields, public/open spaces, as well as recreational and cultural/communal activities remain banned until May 31, 2020.
The governor gave this directive, in a broadcast, on Tuesday, saying it has become necessary to partially lift the ban on movements within the state effective Thursday, April 30, 2020.
This, he said, was “to enable our people engage in economic/business activities between the hours of 6am and 7:00pm. Security agencies will be on hand to ensure strict compliance with the time frame.
“As we gradually relax the restriction of movement, I must caution that it is not yet Uhuru. Life as we have known it is still a long way off.
“We must, therefore, brace ourselves up to adjust to the new normal in all our personal, official and business dealings going forward.
“As an administration, we remain irrevocably committed to doing everything necessary to protect the lives and property of citizens in the State, in addition to providing a safe and secure environment for them to pursue their dreams of success and happiness.
“While burials and weddings will be allowed, the social distancing rule (6ft apart) must be applied, and the number of guests/persons must not exceed 50.
“Restaurants/Canteens/Beer Parlours are to operate on take-away basis while hotels will be allowed to open (with in-room dining) but their restaurants, bars and night clubs remain closed till further notice.
“While transport services (keke, taxis, buses) are allowed to operate, number of passengers shall be as follows: two persons at the back for keke; one person at the front seat and two persons at the back for a taxi; 10-12 persons for a 16-seater/18-seater bus”.
However, public and private schools would remain closed until Sunday, May 31, 2020, while entertainment centres, including cinemas, bars and night clubs remain closed until Sunday, May 31, 2020.
Conferences, sporting activities, gathering of people in convention/event centres, sports fields, public/open spaces, as well as recreational and cultural/communal activities remain banned, airports remain closed to passenger traffic till further notice.
“I shall be meeting with our religious leaders on Thursday, April 30, 2020 to chart the way forward for our places of worship. Meanwhile, all crusades/conventions remain banned till further notice.
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“For the public service only, workers on Grade Level 12 and above should resume work effective Thursday 30th, April 2020. This order does not apply to junior staff on essential/emergency duties.
“Workers with commodities identified by the ministry of Health or its agencies can work from home. However, workplace protocols should be in place for disease surveillance/prevention, including screening, use of facemasks and social distancing.
He further reiterated that security agencies had been advised to ensure strict compliance with the above directives. Violators would be prosecuted, without fear or favour.
“Henceforth, it is mandatory for all residents in the State to make use of facemasks in the public. Anybody leaving his/her home must wear a facemask effective Thursday, April 30, till further notice.
“They must be worn in public places including offices, markets, malls, supermarkets, salons, hospitals and health clinics, churches, mosques, as well as all approved gatherings of persons.
“Traders/market women are all required to wear facemasks while carrying out their businesses. The Local Government Chairmen are hereby directed to work out the modalities for the operations of the markets in their domain, especially with regards to social distancing and other sanitation protocols.
“Hair dressing/barbing salons must never be crowded. Owners are hereby directed to restrict the number of persons inside to a minimum number that will facilitate appropriate social distancing.
“As much as possible, workers in these establishments should wear hand gloves.
Governor Okowa said the state government would, effective Thursday, commence the distribution of cloth face masks to residents in the state, using the local government offices as channels.
Meanwhile, those who could afford it were advised to make their own purchases. The benefit of the cloth facemasks is that they can be washed and reused and there will be a continuation of the inter-state lockdown for another two weeks.
“Only essential supplies – food, beverages, medicals, pharmaceuticals, petroleum and agricultural products – are exempted from this order”.
