COVID-19: Kogi Gov Orders Closure Of Schools, Bans Gathering Of Over 30 People

 

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has ordered the closure of public and private schools (tertiary, secondary and primary) in the state as measures in preventing the spread of  coronavirus disease in the state. 

Bello in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed in Lokoja on Friday,  said the closure of schools and other public gathering places takes effect from Monday, March 23, 2020. The governor also banned all forms of gathering involving 30 people and above as part of the preventive measures against the pandemic.

  According to the governor, the measures became imperative given the strategic location of the state which serve as transit point for travellers connecting various parts of the federation. 

The statement urged citizens of the state to be cautious and observe high level personal hygiene practice such as constant hand washing with soap and  hand sanitizers as well as observance of social distancing.  

As part of its preparedness, the state government has set up an isolation centre in Lokoja, the state capital and an Emergency Response Team has been  constituted too.  

At the moment, sensitisation and awareness are being created on the disease through the media as well as in parks, markets and community levels.  According to the statement, government is leveraging on the existing house-to-house Lassa Fever campaign to take the message of COVID-19 to the grassroots. 

The government also provided the following emergency telephone numbers for rapid response:08064469625, 07067918835, 08030607102, 08034732988, 08076288933.