Coronavirus: Don't Go To School, Church, Mosque For Now, OGSG Cautions Residents

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji

ABEOKUTA - Ogun State Government has advised residents of the state to avoid going to religious gathering of more than 50 people to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease.

Similarly, the state government has  ordered the indefinitely closure of schools in the state.

This, according to a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin, said the measure was taken by the state government to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. 

Somorin explained that, these measures would be reviewed at regular intervals in response to the development surrounding the Corona virus disease.

He said the government would continue to engage all stakeholders including the religious leaders to sensitize the people on the need to maintain social distancing and collective effort to combat the pandemic. 

"Due to the global spread of the Corona virus and the recent ban of all high-density gatherings in Ogun State, the State Government wishes to clarify that the ban on high-density gatherings affects all schools, whether they are public or private-owned, as well as all religious activities in the State.

"Consequently, all schools in the State will remain closed indefinitely after school hours on Friday, March, 20th, 2020.

"Also, all religious centres and activities including regular and special services that bring together fifty (50) or more persons in the same place are banned with immediate effect.

"The Government, therefore, enjoins all parents and guardians who have their children and wards in any boarding facility within the State to immediately evacuate them and return them to their respective homes at the close of schools on Friday, March 20th, 2020."

Somorin added that, Governor Dapo Abiodun acknowledged and appreciated religious leaders for their advice, understanding  solidarity and support, as the state search for solution to the pandemic. 

"Government emphasises the need to observe global best practice of social distancing as way of curtailing the spread of the pandemic and recommends that as much as possible, people should minimize contact with others and maintain a distance of at least five feet between one another in public places or in public transportation. In addition, nonessential travels should be limited whilst also avoiding high-density gatherings.

"Governor Abiodun pleads for the understanding of parents, school owners and the entire citizenry to comply fully with all laid down measures and for them to offer useful information for the state to respond appropriately to the COVID-19 challenge.

"The Governor further encourages people to maintain a high level of personal hygiene and surveillance. He added that suspected cases should be reported at the nearest Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCs) in all the 236 wards in the State or the Emergency Operations Centre on COVID-19 by telephone on 08188978393 or 08188978392".