CHARLES IWUOHA

Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi, has ordered the immediate closure of all the courts in the state.

The governor gave the directive on Friday, in a broadcast to residents, and also ordered all judiciary staff in the state to immediately proceed for COVID-19 tests.

He further announced that the state had recorded its first COVID-19 death, which he described as regrettable and saddening.

The governor said the courts are to remain closed for the next 10 days, and that the directive was to enable health workers fumigate the buildings and premises. Umahi described the first recorded covid-19 death in the state as regrettable and saddening.

He said: “It is unfortunate that we have recorded one death due to this COVID-19 and it makes me so sad.

“I am directing that in line with the COVID-19 law, all the courts in Ebonyi State be shut down for the next 10 days. The Judiciary, State High Court, Industrial Court, Federal High Court, Magistrate Court should all be shutdown.

“Also, I advise all the judiciary officers and their families to undergo COVID-19 tests. I have ordered that all the Judiciary buildings and premises should be immediately fumigated within the 10 days.”

Umahi advised churches and marketers to take safety measure to the coronavirus seriously, for their own good.

He regretted that residents were not taking the pandemic seriously and warned that any church or market found flouting the COVID-19 law will be shutdown.

According to Governor Umahi, “We are not contemplating closing markets and churches, but we advise them to please take this matter serious. If you are working, ensure that you sanitise yourself every 10 minutes.

“This is very serious. We have a spike because we have a high testing. People may have the COVID-19 but won’t show any symptoms but will go about spreading it.

“Some people with the virus will argue that they are not showing any symptoms. Yes, your immune system is fighting it but the next person that may be weaker than you is at danger and our job is to protect everybody in Ebonyi.”

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