Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, Saturday ordered a total lockdown of four local government areas of the state to forestall community spread of COVID-19.
The Local Government Areas are; Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West.
This was contained in a statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, who explained that the decision was necessary after meeting with the stakeholders from the area, to curtail the spread of the virus.
The Commissioner said the lockdown would commence on Tuesday, July 7 and would go on for a week with a possibility of extension, if the compliance levels do not reduce the cases.
The statement read in parts, “As you are all aware, the Federal Government, a few days ago lifted the ban on interstate travel in the country. We have, therefore, lifted ours too.
“But our relaxation guidelines still subsist except for four local government areas, namely; Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West, and Atakumosa East Local Government areas where we have now ordered a one-week lockdown, effective Tuesday, July 7.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our curfew will still run from 9.p.m to 5.a.m daily in other parts of the State, except the locked down LGAs. In furtherance to the above, for the other parts of the State, the ban on political, public, religious, and any kind of gatherings under whatever guise remain in force, while worship centres must adhere strictly to government’s guidelines guiding their re-opening.
“The government will not hesitate to shut down any of the worship centres that violates our guidelines.
“For the four local government areas, all markets will remain shut, only neighbourhood markets and Pharmacies will be allowed to open.
“There must be strict adherence to stipulated physical distancing, the use of face masks, and observance of all other precautionary measures and established protocols of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.”
