‘All Is Not Yet ‘Uhuru’ – Okowa, Eases Lockdown In Delta With New Conditions

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has announced a partial relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown in Delta state to enable the people engage in economic/business activities between the hours of 6:am and 7:pm but cautioned that all is not yet ‘uhuru’.

Okowa had in April 1, announced a lockdown of the state for two weeks which he later extended by another two week after earlier ordering closure of all entry points into and out of Delta State as a proactive step to keep the coronavirus pandemic at bay.

In a state broadcast on Tuesday, Governor Okowa said that the lockdown had helped to limit the spread of the virus in the State as the state recorded within the period six cases of COVID-19 and one death.

According to him, although the state government was mindful of the ‘tough economy’ situation faced by Deltans, particularly those in the informal sector who live on daily income, the lockdown had helped to break the chain of transmission, and also gave the state government the leeway to easily trace, identify, isolate and test contacts of infected persons.

“As we begin to ease the lockdown restrictions, the sensible approach is to do it in a gradual, systematic, and orderly manner so that we do not wipe out the gains of the past four weeks. We are very mindful of the fact that each day of the lockdown was tough economically and particularly agonising for those in the informal sector who live on daily income.

“As we gradually relax the restriction of movement, I must caution that it is not yet uhuru; life as we have known it is still a long way off. We must therefore brace ourselves up to adjust to the new normal in all our personal, official and business dealings going forward.

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“As an administration, we remain irrevocably committed to doing everything necessary to protect the lives and property of citizens in the State, in addition to providing a safe and secure environment for them to pursue their dreams of success and happiness.

“In view of the foregoing, it has become necessary to PARTIALLY LIFT THE BAN on movements within the State effective THURSDAY, 30TH APRIL 2020. This is to enable our people engage in economic/business activities between the hours of 6am and 7pm. Security agencies will be on hand to ensure strict compliance with the time frame”.

He, however, announced an exception for the new measures.

According to him, “Conferences, sporting activities, gathering of people in convention/event centres, sports fields, public/open spaces, as well as recreational and cultural/communal activities remain banned until 31st May 2020.

“While burials and weddings will be allowed, the social distancing rule (6ft apart) must be applied, and the number of guests/persons must not exceed 50.

He also said that schools (public and private) will remain closed until Sunday, 31st May 2020. Entertainment centres, including cinemas, bars and night clubs remain closed until Sunday, 31st May 2020.

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He said that Restaurants/Canteens/Beer Parlours are to operate on take-away basis while hotels will be allowed to open (with in-room dining) but their restaurants, bars and night clubs remain closed till further notice.

“While transport services (keke, taxis, buses) are allowed to operate, number of passengers shall be as follows: -– 2 persons at the back for keke; one person at the front seat and two persons at the back for a taxi; 10-12 persons for a 16-seater/18-seater bus.

“Our airports remain closed to passenger traffic till further notice.
I shall be meeting with our religious leaders on Thursday, 30th April 2020 to chart the way forward for our places of worship. However, all crusades/conventions remain banned till further notice.

Reeling out the new measures, Okowa said; “Henceforth, it is mandatory for all residents in the State to make use of facemasks in the public. Anybody leaving his/her home must wear a facemask effective Thursday, 30th April 2020 till further notice.

“They must be worn in public places including offices, markets, malls, supermarkets, salons, hospitals and health clinics, churches, mosques, as well as all approved gatherings of persons.

“Traders/market women are all required to wear facemasks while carrying out their businesses. The Local Government Chairmen are hereby directed to work out the modalities for the operations of the markets in their domain, especially with regards to social distancing and other sanitation protocols.

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“Hair dressing/barbing Salons MUST NEVER BE CROWDED; owners are hereby directed to restrict the number of persons inside to a minimum number that will facilitate appropriate social distancing. As much as possible, workers in these establishments should wear hand gloves.

“For the public service, only workers on Grade Level 12 and above should resume work effective Thursday, 30th April 2020. This order does not apply to junior staff on essential/emergency duties.

“Let me reiterate that security agencies have been advised to ensure strict compliance with the above directives. Violators will be prosecuted, without fear or favour”.