By CHARLES IWUOHA

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to re-impose the COVID-19 lockdown across the state if the cases of the infection continue to rise in the state.

Wike, who spoke Monday during a live television broadcast from the Government House in Port Harcourt, said the daily figures from the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) indicate that the transmission and death rate of the disease is on the increase as residents and visitors in the state have refused to obey the COVID-19 protocols.

The Governor also advised residents to ensure they get vaccinated against the virus to protect themselves and appealed to religious leaders to encourage their members to take the COVID vaccine.

In his words, “The daily figures released from the NCDC show that both the transmission and death rates in the last two weeks have consistently been on a rising spiral because residents and visitors to the state have largely abandoned their responsibility to comply with the existing COVID-19 protocols.

“Clearly, we are headed for a serious health disaster of profound consequences if residents and visitors continue to behave as if the pandemic no longer exists or impotent in Rivers State.

“This is a big lie and we cannot afford to continue to close our eyes to the dangers such irresponsible behaviour poses to the health, lives and livelihood of everyone.

“I appeal to all residents to help protect yourself, your loved ones and the rest of the citizens by getting your jab at the designated health centres in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State as they become available.

“We may be constrained to re-impose the suspended COVID-19 lockdown measures across the state if the transmission of the disease continues to increase beyond tolerable limits”.

Update news