School resumption dates change, as Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Abuja ban cross over night vigil

 

Following the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has announced fresh measures to curtail the spread of the virus.

In a related development, Ondo State Government, yesterday, cancelled crossover service by churches across the state ahead of the New Year.

Speaking in Akure, Chairman, Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee on Coronavirus and Vice-Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences in Ondo, Prof Adesegun Fatusi said, “The Federal Government has stipulated that schools should be closed till January 18. The inter-ministerial committee decided that events as regards the pandemic should be watched. So, we want to observe and ensure that there is no active transmission within our system.

“Primary and secondary schools will not be resuming on January 4,  they will be resuming by January 18. That’s the decision regarding the schools. On the issue of religious services, note that there is a national curfew in place, and the state is bound by the principles of that curfew.

In Kwara state, as at yesterday, morning,  there were 32 positive cases of Covid-19  in the state, under the care of the state government.

Chairman, Technical Committee of Covid-19 and deputy governor Mr Kayode Alabi, represented by the deputy, Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Rasaki, said, “There shall be partial state-wide lockdown between 12am and 4.30am with effect from Thursday, until further notice.”

He warned that any group or persons found to have flouted the rules as outlined would be tried and punished according to the existing law. Security agencies will deploy all lawful means to enforce these protocols. Defaulters are deemed to constitute dangers to public health. Provisions of the Kwara State Infectious Diseases Regulations 2020 shall apply to all offenders.”

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who reeled out new guidelines to curb the second wave of CovidD-19 in a state broadcast, yesterday, said the step became necessary to ensure that the situation does not snowball out of control. Fayemi said security agencies have been given strict instructions to the task force and law enforcement agents to begin aggressive compliance enforcement of the new rules in public places.

said supermarkets, event centres, hotels and bar owners, were to strictly ensure that social distancing measures are put in place and followed accordingly.

The governor said only half of the full sitting capacity of a facility can be allowed to participate in any ceremony/programme at any point and activities should not exceed 8pm.

“In Ekiti here, as at two days ago, we had done a total of 7, 890 tests with 405 confirmed cases since the outbreak. We have about 30 active cases currently under treatment in our isolation centre. One frightening fact about these figures, however, is that we have recorded about 15 cases out of about 170 tests conducted in the last week. This is near 10 per cent confirmed cases as against the less than 5 per cent that we used to have at the beginning of the pandemic, earlier in the year.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, according to his Chief Press Secretary,  directed all schools in the state to remain closed until January 18, 2021, while all bars, nightclubs, pubs and event centres, recreational centres in the state have also been closed down indefinitely.

The governor further directed that all markets are to open strictly between 8am and 4pm, while maintaining social distancing and observing all Covid-19 protocols, including the use of face mask, provision of hand sanitizer and/or hand-washing equipment at every strategic point within their malls, shops, business premises etc.