By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Government has barred all forms of religious gatherings in the state with effect from Monday, 30th March, 2020, to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

The directives followed that some religious organisations have been disobeying government’s directives on public gathering by holding crusades, conducting weddings and burial ceremonies as well as other gathering outside their worship centres.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, said the shutdown remain till April 14, 2020 to ensure compliance and to protect the lives of the citizens from the scourge of COVID-19.

According to the statement, government requested the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state and leadership of other religious organisations to ensure that the directive is fully obeyed by every religious group in the state, as well as other religious groups are encouraged to pray from their homes.

It further stated that Ebonyi State Government is concerned that with two cases of COVID-19 having been confirmed in Enugu State, Government cannot in any way afford to risk the lives of Ebonyians.

“Ebonyians are hereby advised to take the fight against COVID-19 very seriously by observing government’s directives on the dos and don’ts of COVID-19 preventive measures.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Government has directed that with effect from Monday, 30th March 2020, all markets and shops that are not dealing on essential commodities be shutdown,” the statement said.

It added that all drinking joints, sports and sporting activities as well as other forms of public events are hereby shutdown.

“This means that the shops that will be allowed to remain open are: Vegetable, foodstuff and fruits market, meat market, building materials, medical shops, hotels, hospitals, pharmaceutical stores, spare parts dealers and other allied essential services.

“Government further called on farmers, especially the rice millers and other food processing industries to expedite action on food production, to ensure availability of food to the general public, in case there is need for total lockdown of activities in the state.

“Government is also considering inter-senatorial partial movement restriction in the state from Monday, 30th March, 2020.

“Ebonyi State Government has prepared quarantine, isolation and treatments centres at the border between Enugu and Ebonyi State as well as Unity Square, with one holding area at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FETHA) where suspected cases will stay, if the test result is positive, he/she will be moved to any of the isolation/treatment centres.

“Members of the public are enjoined to supply information about the returnees from outside the country or from other parts of Nigeria.

“Also, Government has made available hotel accommodation for all the medical personnel that will be involved in carrying out test/treatment on patients with suspected cases, and also, to ensure that they are fully isolated from associating with families and the public, as government does not want to risk their lives or that of their family members.

“Given the forgoing, Ebonyi State Government is calling on medical workers, who wish to volunteer in the handling and treatment of suspected COVID-19 patients and confirmed cases to report to the office of Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike or Dr. Emeka Onwe Ogah, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FETHA) and register immediately.

“All these actions taken by the State Government are to ensure the protection of lives of Ebonyians which government swore to, under the oath of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

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