By Amos Ogunrinde.
The Ekiti State Government has imposed a curfew from 8.00 pm to 6.00 am and as well banned all gatherings of more than twenty people in the state with effect from Monday, 11th January, 2021 until further notice.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Mr Akin Omole explained that the new guidelines became necessary to forestall the spread of the second wave of coronavirus in the State, which has been reported to be more contagious and severe than the first COVID-19
He stressed that the curfew would be enforced strictly except for those on essential services.
Reiterating the commitment of the State Government to the safety of lives of people in the State, Mr Omole said Governor Fayemi directed the imposition of the curfew to protect residents of the State from falling prey to the second wave of the pandemic that has continued to claim thousands of lives across the globe.
He urged people of the state to strictly observe the Covid-19 protocols and abide by the curfew and new restrictions placed on public gatherings, warning that government would enforce the new directives and violators would be made to face the wrath of the law.
Mr Omole emphasized the need for people in the State to properly wear nose masks, wash their hands with soap and use hand sanitizer regularly, as well as keep social distance to avoid contacting the virus.
The commissioner implored worship centres to hold a maximum of two services on Friday, Saturday or Sunday accordingly adding that the services should however not extend beyond 2.00pm.
Mr Omole directed all worship centres to provide necessary facilities for hand washing, soap and hand sanitizer at the entrance and
infrared thermometers to take worshippers temperature before they were allowed in for service.
He added that the State Covid-19 Response Committee put in place by the state Government and other relevant enforcement agencies would be going round to ensure compliance with these directives and any person or group of persons caught violating the guidelines would be sanctioned accordingly.
The Commissioner stated that top government functionaries both at the State and Local Government levels, council Chairmen, traditional rulers and law enforcement agencies were expected to monitor compliance and promptly report violators to the Covid-19 Response Taskforce for necessary action.
