Bauchi govt relaxes COVID-19 lockdown measures

Bauchi State government Thursday reviewed its restriction order put in place to check the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.

The government said the new measures, which come just 24 hours to the deadline of the lockdown imposed on the state, takes effect April 2.

The government had earlier imposed a 14-day restriction on the state in a bid to tackle the disease.

The state Deputy Governor, Baba Tella, who disclosed this to journalists at the Government House in Bauchi, said out of the 99 samples collected by the state government, only three persons tested positive for coronavirus while 96 turned out negative.

He added that two persons would be discharged after the 14 days o Isolation.

“A crucial step in combating the pandemic is to do with managing our people. The lockdown is essentially meant to address that.

“One point must be abundantly clear, this lockdown is not a shutdown, it is a process that is meant to ensure social distancing in a manner that we do not, by way of congestion in markets and other densely populated areas expose ourselves to the infection.

“Having observed that no palliative measures have been introduced to cushion the effects of the lockdown, we must address the process in a manner that does not create harm or social dislocation.

“Consequently, we are putting emphasizes on borders so that unsuspected carriers of the virus do not infiltrate and spread the virus.”

Tella, who doubles as Chairman of the State Task Force on COVID-19, said the state government, after consultations with opinion leaders, statesmen, Ulamas, clergies, the security forces, health care professionals and taking cognizance of the fact that the majority of the people normally find sustenance by the day, reviewed the restriction in line with present challenges.

READ ALSO: 11 COVID-19 patients discharged in Lagos

“Effective from 6:00 p.m. on 2nd April, the borders of the state will be closed for an initial period of 14 days. The restriction of movements of people in towns and villages had been eased, but people are to maintain the 1.2 meters spacing and overcrowding.

“This social distancing is to be maintained in mosques and churches, markets, wedding and social ceremonies.

“We want to appeal to the public that even though we relax these measures, we urge our citizens to show greater understanding and cooperation with the law enforcement agencies to help us manage this emergency.”

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