• Gov Uzodimma
- The Daily Crucible
Following the upsurge in confirmed cases of COVID -19 in Imo state, governor Hope Uzodimma has advised indigenes and residents of the state to adhere strictly to the prescribed precautions against the spread of the dreadful virus during the Yuletide.
Uzodimma warned the people not to allow this year edition of the Christmas be the last any of them would celebrate, saying the latest statistics from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) about the state, revealed a frightful upward surge.
Addressing the state on Sunday, he said no fewer than 32 persons were confirmed positive cases in Imo, lamenting that while the grim realities of increasing infections continues to confront the people every day, a general complecency and false sense of safety to Covid 19 safety protocols remained the order of the day.
He warned indigenes and residents on the need to avoid large gathering of over100 people anywhere in the state, saying where it is inevitable, those involved must wear face masks.
He said:"In Imo State the situation is no less frightening. Recent PCR-Based tests carried out in the state in accordance with the guidelines of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), reveal a frightful upward surge in the confirmed cases curve. As of last week, no less than 32 persons were confirmed positive with Covid 19.
"Sadly, while the grim realities of increasing Covid 19 infections continues to confront us every day, a general complecency and false sense of safety amongst our people to Covid 19 safety protocols remain the order of the day.
" This trend must be reversed in the interest of everyone. The time to do so is NOW. The imminent danger posed by the human traffic surge occasioned by the season, makes immediate and drastic steps in this direction both cogent and urgent.
" In this respect I want to emphasise that there is absolute need to avoid gathering of crowds of more than 100 people anywhere in the state. Where such crowds must gather, those involved MUST wear face masks.
"There should be wash hand stands readily available with achohol based sanitisers at such gatherings.
To further strengthen safety measures, all government workers are to stay at home from tomorrow, Monday, December 21, till further notice, except for permanent secretaries and political appointees. This means that the state secretariat, which is a major crowd puller, will remain closed, from tomorrow, to the public until further notice.
In addition, wearing of face masks in public is henceforth absolutely compulsory. Mobile courts have been deployed all over the state to try any person caught without wearing face masks.
Equally, all Covid 19 safety protocols will henceforth be strictly enforced. These include provision of wash hand stands and sanitisers in markets and worship places. Any person or persons caught not observing these safety protocols will be summarily prosecuted in the Mobile courts.
As we enforce the safety protocols and monitor the situation, we shall regularly review developments to determine further measures that may be necessary.
"My beloved Imo people, as I earlier said, I will not want this Christmas to be the last for any of us. Let us take these safety protocols serious and observe them tenaciously. It is in the interest of all of us to do so."
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