By Ewa Innocent,The Sight News
Abakaliki: Ebonyi state government says its entry and exit routes for traffic,via borders, both land and sea will remain closed from Saturday March 28, 2020, to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to the state.
Governor David Umahi disclosed this when he led the state Committee on Anti COVID-19, on sensitization and enforcement campaign to prevent the spread of Coronavirus to the state.
The team which visited various banks, big restaurants and other public places,with the message of observing the precautionary measures set out by government to prevent the spread of coronavirus to the state, was accompanied by the Deputy governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe,the speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Ogbonnia Nwifuru, Secretary to the state government, Dr.Kenneth Ugballa.
Some members of the State Executive Council, including the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Uchenna Orji, and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike,the Service chiefs, and other top government officials.
Governor Umahi while addressing the staff of the banks and other institutions visited, called on them to use the hotline made available by government to provide useful information on any suspected person that presents the symptom of coronavirus,or anybody coming into the state from outside the country or from the affected states such as Lagos, Edo, Osun, Ekiti, Rivers and Abuja.
His words,”On this campaign against coronavirus and lassa fever, I appeal to you, if anybody you see coughing continuously, you need to call the hotline given to you. In your homes, if you see anybody returning from Abuja, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, River states, or outside the country, you need to notify us for the sake of your own life and our own life, so that we can monitor the person.
“By Saturday morning, nobody leaves Ebonyi, nobody comes in unless you are coming with a tanker of fuel and only you are in the vehicle, or you are coming with drugs or food or building materials. These are the only vehicles we will allow into the state, provided there will be no two people inside the vehicles”, he said.
Governor Umahi called on the people to always observe regular hand washing with running water, screening of temperature, use of hand sanitizers,and nose masks to prevent possible spread of the virus.
In his opening remarks,the commissioner for Donor Agencies, and also the Secretary of the State Anti-coronavirus Committee,Dr Sunday Nwangele,had acknowledged the importance governor Umahi attaches to the health and safety of the people,hence, his physical presence to sensitize the public on the measures set out by government to prevent Coronavirus and lassa fever in the state.
It will be recalled that governor David Umahi had during a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday, declared seven days fasting and prayers for the state, to seek the face of the God in fighting the deadly Coronavirus and lassa fever.
