By Iduozee Paul, Benin
Edo State commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia says two other persons have been tested positive for Coronavirus, bringing to 11the number of persons that have contracted the disease in the state.
Dr. Okundia added that four isolation centers have been built by the state government to enable it curtail the virus in the state. He made the statements when the Edo State COVID-19 Response Team briefed journalists at the Government House in Benin-City.
The commissioner said two centers are in the Stella Obasanjo Teaching Hospital with other testing centers assuring that all hands must be on deck to reduce the disease.
Speaking about the current development about the scourge, the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, said, all markets in the state are to be shut down effective from midnight of Tuesday, April, 2020, mid night.
Shaiubu said, before they took the decision the team met with the key stakeholders including, the market leaders and traditional rulers and advised that social distancing order should be maintained.
The deputy governor said people should stay at home to curb the virus, advising that anybody that wants to go out should wear a face mask. He warned that government will deal with anyone who violates the order.
Shaiubu who is the chairman of Edo State COVID-19 Response Technical Committee, said the state government has purchased 28 ventilators, donated three to UBTH which now has modern facilities. He added that the state government will not cordon returnees and people isolating themselves at home and in hotels.
He said, “All markets in Edo State are to be shut down effective from Tuesday, April 7th, 2020, midnight. The state government will undertake the fumigation of markets, from the day of closure.The markets are to be relocated to designated public primary and secondary schools within the market premises. The government has mandated the use of face masks as a government sanctioned precautionary measure against COVID-19.
“The University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, has been designated as a holding /isolation center. Isolation facilities are being made more comfortable for patients, as TV and air conditioning (AC) sets have been installed. Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC, reports that people are coming for voluntary testing.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization, WHO representative, Mrs. Faith has appealed to all people to continue to cultivate regular washing of hands, use of sanitizers, maintaining social distance and wearing of masks to reduce the disease.
On his part, chairman of ALGON in Edo State, Jenkins Osunde appealed to Edo people to abide by the order given by the state government to curb the killer virus. The market women leader, Mrs. Blackly said the relocation of markets to schools will help the government.
#EDO COVID-19
#KICK OUT CORONAVIRUS
