The Government of the State of Osun, Tuesday, extended the initial 14-day restrictions of movement imposed on the state to curb the spread of COVID-19, by another 14 days.
This came barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari extended the restrictions placed on Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, by two weeks.
However, the extension in Osun will take effect from Friday, April 17, allowing a two-day break, from Wednesday, April 15, 2020 to Thursday, April 16, 2020, to allow people to re-stock for the second stint of the lockdown.
At a briefing Tuesday, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, explained that the decision to extend the ban became necessary in order to defeat coronavirus in Osun.
Oyetola, speaking on the necessity for the lockdown, said: “the decision to impose a lockdown on the State was a painful one, but its outcomes have proven that we took the best decision as no new case was recorded during the two-week total lockdown period.”
“However, the application and implications of half measures are dangerous and grave at this critical period”, he added.
The Governor described the experience of previous months as one that the State wouldn’t wish for a repeat, and that explained why the government needs to deal with the deadly enemy once and for all.
“The circumstances of our situation do not support the suspension of lockdown at this period,” Oyetola continued. “This is even more so as we are surrounded by States that are still struggling with the deadly virus.
“Consequently, in order to ensure a total defeat of coronavirus in Osun, we shall extend lockdown by another 14 days.”
Announcing the moratorium on the lockdown, the governor said: “To allow our people to re-stock to survive this lockdown period, the lockdown is suspended between Wednesday, 15th and Thursday, 16th April, 2020. The second lockdown shall therefore commence on midnight of Thursday, April 16, 2020.”
Defining the scope of operations during the two-day suspension of the lockdown, Oyetola said: “all markets and land boundaries remain closed during the suspension of the lockdown and the lockdown period. Also, the ban on all public gatherings remains in force.”
Speaking on the current status of the State of Osun with respect to the pandemic, the Governor reiterated that: “One of the two earlier cases has since been released after testing negative twice. Also, 110 out of the 127 Ivory Coast returnees tested negative and have been released while 10 out of the remaining 17 patients who tested positive for Coronavirus have tested negative twice and have been released to join their families. The remaining seven whose results came back positive, are receiving adequate treatment at our facility.”
The Government, however, enjoined citizens and residents to continue to observe all precuationary measures during the suspension of the lockdown and within the lockdown period, including social distancing, washing of hands with soap or use of hand sanitisers.
The Governor also appreciated the support and cooperation of the residents, the health workers, security agents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, the relief committee and others, for their relentless efforts towards ensuring that the government succeeds in its efforts to flatten the curve of the pandemic.
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