…cancels cross over service
By Gabriel Atumeyi
The governments of Ondo and Ekiti States have announced the cancellation of annual ‘cross over vigils’ which usually hold in churches every last day of the year.
The step is said to be geared towards curbing the spike in Coronavirus cases across the states and the nation at large.
The Chairman, Ondo State Interministerial Committee on Coronavirus, who is also the Vice Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Adesegun Fatusi, said this in Akure on Wednesday.
He also said resumption of schools had been postponed from January 7 to January 18, 2021, as advised by the Federal Government.
According to him, “The committee had extensive interaction with various stakeholders, physically and virtually, on the need to take proactive measures against the second wave of COVID-19.”
“The state was working assiduously to ensure it recorded no substantial case during the second wave of the pandemic.”
Mr Fatusi urged residents to pay due attention to the precautionary measures put in place to safeguard them.
He said no church service organised in respect of the New Year celebration must exceed 10 p.m. in line with federal government’s directive.
These include “government and business offices to open, with strict compliance with COVID-19 precautionary measures; no primary or secondary school in the state should resume until 18th January, 2021 and markets should continue operations but with heightened enforcement of COVID-19 precautionary measures.”
He also noted that night clubs and relaxation spots must not operate beyond 10pm while picnics could hold but in open space and in adherence with COVID-19 protocols.
Mr Fatusi said those above 60 years of age or with existing ailment(s) are strongly advised to remain indoor and disengage from joining any social gathering.
He said the government would begin to carry out strict monitoring of these guidelines.
Mr Fatusi also noted that by January 2021, the state would begin strict enforcement of the guidelines, stating that “the law provides for three months imprisonment, or payment of N20, 000 fine or both for offenders.”
The state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, had earlier cancelled the state’s usual annual event held to celebrate the season due to the surge in the pandemic.
In same vein, Ekiti State has also postponed the resumption of schools, among other new restrictions announced by the government.
The Ekiti State Government has imposed fresh restrictions to safeguard public health following a spike in the cases of COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Kayode Fayemi, who reeled out new guidelines to curb the second wave of COVID-19 in a state broadcast on Wednesday evening, said the step became necessary to ensure that the situation does not snowball out of control.
Mr Fayemi said security agencies have been given strict instructions to the taskforce and law enforcement agents to begin aggressive compliance enforcement of the new rules in public places.
Affected by the latest restrictions are worship centres which have been directed to return to one service on worship days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday and they are to do so at half of the sitting capacity of the worship centre.
The governor also directed that schools in the state should remain closed till January 18 while vigils, partying and clubbing are suspended till further notice.
Mr Fayemi directed that civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below are to stay at home till January 18 when they would be directed on when to resume back at their desks.
Government officials, he noted, are to discourage in-person meetings as much as possible and no government official must been seen in the public without wearing facemasks.
According to him, protocols regarding wedding and burial ceremonies remain in force directing that there should be no crowd in the church auditorium and burial services must be at the graveside only.
Supermarkets, event centres, hotels and bar owners, he added, are to strictly ensure that social distancing measures are put in place and followed accordingly.
The governor said only half of the full sitting capacity of a facility can be allowed to participate in any ceremony/programme at any point and activities should not exceed 8pm.
Mr Fayemi said: “In Ekiti here, as at two days ago, we had done a total of 7, 890 tests with 405 confirmed cases since the outbreak. We have about 30 active cases currently under treatment in our isolation centre.
“One frightening fact about these figures however is that we have recorded about 15 cases out of about 170 tests conducted in the last one week. This is near 10 per cent confirmed cases as against the less than 5 percent that we used to have at the beginning of the pandemic, earlier in the year.
“Things were not this bad when we imposed strict restrictions on the State at the outset of the breakout of the pandemic in March. Government is therefore very disturbed with the rising figure and its implications on our fragile health facilities and economic wellbeing.”
He added: “We understand the importance of this season in our religious life as a people, we however must prioritise public health above other considerations; therefore, we expect churches to observe the service in strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols such as hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, observation of the approved social distance and to allow only half of the sitting capacity of the church to partake in the service.
“In addition, protocols regarding wedding and burial ceremonies remain in force. There should be no crowd in the church auditorium and burial services must be at the graveside only.
“Supermarkets, event centres, hotels and bar owners are to strictly ensure that social distancing measures are put in place and followed accordingly.
“Only half of the full sitting capacity of a facility can be allowed to participate in any ceremony/programme at any point and activities should not exceed 8.00pm. Partying, clubbing and vigils are suspended indefinitely until further notice.
“To ensure that things do not snowball out of control, we have given strict instructions to the taskforce and law enforcement agents to begin aggressive compliance enforcement activities in public places, including worship centres, event centres, markets, supermarkets, bars and hotels. Government will not hesitate to close down any facility indefinitely, and to prosecute operators of any public places, flouting the protocols,” he added.