COVID-19: Umahi bans religious, social gatherings in Ebonyi for 31 days

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Monday banned all forms of public gatherings in the state for 31 days in an effort to guard against the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease in the state.

Umahi, represented by his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, announced the ban at a town hall meeting with residents, which held at the International Conference Centre, Abakaliki.

The gatherings, according to the governor, included burials, weddings, conferences, seminars, among others, noting that the ban was for a period of one month in the first instance.

Read also: Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases hit 40 as NCDC confirms 4 fresh infections

The governor noted that the ban was part of measures being put in place by the state government to protect the people from contracting the deadly coronavirus which had been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

He said: “It is painful to take the decision but government had to reason that it is better to let the dead bury the dead for now. But if you feel that you cannot wait, then you can take the corpse and bury just you and your family without any ceremony and invitation to anybody.”

He also directed civil servants in the state to work from home, from March 25, 2020, adding that those on essential services were exempted from the order.

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