In view of the increasing cases of coronavirus in the country and the need to do a thorough contact tracing on the three cases already recorded in Delta state, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has announced an extension of the lockdown in the state by an additional 14 days.
The Governor, who announced this in a statewide broadcast to Deltans on Tuesday, also imposed a 7pm to 7am curfew to stop movement of persons and opening of some business premises after 6pm as was the case during the first 14 days of the lockdown.
Okowa directed the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, to ensure strict enforcement of the lockdown and curfew as violation would not be tolerated.
He said temporary food markets opened in designated primary schools and open spaces across the Council areas of the state would now operate only on Mondays. Wednesdays and Saturdays with strict compliance with social distancing, and advised local government chairmen to open more of the markets to meet the food needs of the people.
The Governor thanked Deltans who obeyed the initial sit at home order which lasted from April 1 to April 14, and solicited greater cooperation of the people in the next 14 days to guarantee effective control of the spread of COVID – 19 in the state.
Okowa commended health workers in the state for their uncommon dedication to duty in the current fight against the coronavirus, disclosing that an appropriate remuneration was being packaged for them.
He urged security agents at the check points to treat health workers with courtesy upon presentation of their identity cards to enable them attend to their patients.
The Governor said face masks were being produced in large quantities for distribution to the people free of charge within the next one week and appealed to Deltans to continue to wash their hands regularly with soap and water or sanitize their hands in the absence of water, maintain social distancing and obey the ban on public gatherings.
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