COVID 19: Some Persons must Isolate - Obaseki insists

The Edo State government has so far screened over 404,000 persons and tested 4,344 Edo residents for covid 19. From this exercise, Edo state recorded 519 confirmed cases, 113 recovered and sadly 27 deaths, there is now rise case of community spread particularly, we the elderly being the most affected.

This breakdown was given by Governor Godwin Obaseki recently while addressing journalists in government house on the situation reports of coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world and Edo state in particular.

Governor Godwin Obaseki said that "the last three months has been very tough for us as a result of the restructure of our lives by the recent covid 19 pandemic. Based on this, we decided to screened 500,000 and tested 5,000 of our citizens with the hope that the information gathered will assist us in tailoring our response."

The Governor emphasized that "even though persons who are aged 60 years and above make up only 5 per cent of our population, over 50 per cent of the death we had recorded affects this category. This show that the coronavirus decease has more fetal imparts on elderly which results on their death."

He stressed further that "as a government, we are very concern of the exposure of our elderly population to this decease and we have resolved that these vulnerable persons must be protected. We must now intensify protective measures such as wearing of face mask, hand washing and practicing physical distances.  We cannot afford to acts irresponsibly."

The governor explained that since Edo State government had purchased facilities to police the covid 19 pandemic at Stella Obasanjo Hospital, some persons are still refusing to isolate in this facilities. They rather prefer to be self-isolate in their home thereby spreading the virus to their loves ones and increasing community spread. We frown on this behavior and we will henceforth publish the list of these persons who refuse to be isolate."

"In view of the upcoming election and to decrease infection during the political parties campaign, we issued a gazette that provide guidance on how political parties can conduct political rallies. There remains the restriction of gathering of more than 20 persons, however, when higher number of persons are require to gather, permission, guidelines and locations may be granted by the Edo state government." 

On partial lockdown in Edo State, the state governor said that "however, in line with the presidential taskforce recommendation to states, we are now going to commence gradual open of the state in two weeks time.  But immediately, the curfew which was  imposed in the state will not relax and will henceforth commence from 10.00pm to 4.00am."

Speaking on the reopening of school, Edo State governor said that schools will remain closed but guideline for states to reopening schools is being develop by the federal ministry of education  especially for the JSS3 and SS3 students who are preparing for their examinations.

He therefore encourage all Edo State parents and guidance of pupils in primary schools to continue to use e-learning platform for their educational needs while still at home.

"We will continue phase location and reopening of our markets and we strongly appeal to traders and markets leadership to strictly comply with the government directives and social distances for their health and wellbeing" the governor concluded.