To further strengthen the efforts aimed at combating COVID-19 pandemic, Plateau state Governor Simon Bako Lalong has reviewed the total lock down with effect from 17th May 2020, and to resume from midnight of every Sunday.
Lalong made this known while briefing Journalists on the update of total lock down over COVD-19 pandemic at the Government House, JOS.
He stressed that henceforth this review of the total lock down will continue to be the pattern until further review, noting that the total lock down is relaxed on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, while Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays remain totally lock down.
” As at today, we have successfully treated and discharged 10 infected persons including the index case who have all been reunited with their families. The other 22 infected persons are still undergoing treatment and in stable condition. Sadly, one victim whose samples was taken died before his result was returned”.
“We have continued to quarantine suspected persons that come in from other states at designated facilities to ascertain their status over the mandatory period of 14 days. At at today, we have 255 persons in our various quarantine centres.’
” However, the major challenge we have continued to face is the breaches at our state boundaries where people continue to violate the closure order through compromise or resort to illegal routes. This has exposed the state to more dangers of COVID-19 , as virtually all the cases we have recorded originated from other states and were imported by people who defied our directives and entered the state at all costs”.
Lalong said, the use of face masks in public places remains compulsory and anyone found not using one outside his home would be arrested and charged to the mobile Court.
He added that, to ensure better enforcement and compliance, the state Government will henceforth enroll some of its civil servants for the exercise, pointing out that the Head of Service has been directed to immediately deploy civil servants from grade level 10-14 to various points across the state.
” The Faringada market continues to defy all guidelines for social distancing and sanitation, and poses potent threat to our efforts to defeat COVID-19. Therefore, the market will be shut down until the trader unions and the Management of Jos- North Local Government come up with an acceptable model for regulations that poses no risk to Public health and safety”.
Governor Lalong further mentioned that so far the state have profiled and have returned a total of 601 Almajiris to their States of origin to be tested, reunited with their families and in addition the state have also received119 Almajiris from other states who have been tested and have reunited with their families.
Francis Lahnim Kusa
FIC JOS
