Obiano orders total lockdown as Anambra records first covid-19 case

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has called on the people of the state not to panic over the state recording its first case of COVID-19.

The governor said that his government was adequately prepared to tackle the disease.

The state recorded its COVID-19 index case on Friday, as it became the second state in the South East to record the dreaded disease after Enugu State that has two confirmed cases.

Obiano, who confirmed the birth of the virus in the state during a broadcast on Saturday, said the patient returned from Lagos State.

The governor during the broadcast, ordered for a total lockdown of the state, instructing security operatives to arrest violators of the new order where necessary.

“Ndi Anambra, I regret to announce that despite our proactive measures to insulate our dear state from this pandemic, we recorded the first case of Coronavirus in the state Friday.

“The index case came in from Lagos. He has been placed in one of our Protective Care Centres.

“At the same time, we have commenced aggressive Contact Tracing to ensure that everyone he came in contact with is brought into the net for a professional handling that will save lives.

“Ndi Anambra, I urge you not to panic over this. It did not take us by surprise. We are adequately prepared to handle the situation”

“We have trained enough manpower on how to handle Covid-19 cases and our Protective Care Centers are among the best in the country at the moment,” he said.

The governor, announcing the extension of restrictionon on movements in the state by two weeks said:

“This time, we are placing a comprehensive lock down on Anambra State. We shall not tolerate any movement across the state by individuals and groups.

“Only people on essential services are permitted to move around in the delivery of those services to the people.

“Ndi Anambra are advised to stay indoors to avoid getting contaminated by this virus.

READ ALSO: Lagos records another COVID-19 related death, bringing total to 4

“The security agencies will enforce the restriction on movement this time and they have my authorization to make arrests where necessary to keep our dear state safe.

“All boundaries with neighbouring states remain closed. There will be no vehicular or human traffic across all the boundaries of Anambra State”, he declared.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now