The kwara state government has announced the total shutdown of the ancient city of Offa town Kwara state over COVID-19 pandemic as part of the proactive measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the town, following the confirmation of two COVID-19 patients from the town.
The shutdown directive was announced at the late hour of Tuesday by the Deputy Governor/Chairman, Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19 Kayode Alabi
He said, the directive was pursuant to the Kwara State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020.
According to him, “The shutdown means total restriction on every vehicular movement into or from Offa. The exceptions to this directive are those contained in the recent address of Mr President which granted access to vehicles transporting foodstuffs, poultry and pharmaceutical products. Any other movement, private or commercial is hereby banned for the next 14 days or until such a time the government is satisfied that our people are no longer at risk of mass infections arising from the two cases that have been traced to the town, starting from 6pm on Wednesday.
“Any violators are liable to punishments outlined in the Kwara State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020. Various security agencies, including the police and the Nigerian Navy, have been drafted to enforce this directive while His Royal Highness the Olofa of Offa has been fully briefed”
He, however said, Arrangements have been made to distribute palliatives to the poorest of the poor to assist them in this trying time. This will happen before the week runs out. The categories of the people to receive the palliatives are strictly the aged, the physically challenged, widows/widowers, poor artisans, and any other needy group that the ward-based committee on palliatives deem qualified for the food stuffs”
“This committees comprise traditional rulers, religious leaders and local Community Based Organisations whose duty is to monitor the exercise. We want to clarify that this palliative cannot go round. It is targeted strictly at the poorest of the poor in the belief that they are the most affected at this time”
He however urged Kwarans to stay calm “the Government will do everything to keep the people safe. We also need you to play your own role. Stay at home. Keep social distancing. Avoid crowd. Prioritise personal hygiene. And please do not spread unverified news. Claims that one of the two suspected COVID-19 cases has died is FALSE. They both remain stable and asymptomatic at this time” he said
It would be recalled that the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19 on Monday confirmed two separate cases of COVID-19 in the state. One is the wife of the UITH patient, a UK returnee, who died last Thursday and the other is another UK returnee.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor/Spokesman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19 Rafiu Ajakaye said “The statement is issued at 18:33pm, a few minutes after the government received official confirmation of test results from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Test Centre in Ibadan. ”
