As the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Saturday evening announced new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with Osun having its second confirmed case, the State Government on Sunday announced a total lockdown.
The Government said all land boundaries would remain shut from midnight, Sunday, March 29, 2020, while movement within the state would be restricted from Tuesday, March 31.
The Governor of the State, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this during a statewide broadcast in the early hours of Sunday.
He added that only individuals on essential duties, such as health personnel, fire service, environmental officials, security personnel, power and water supply agencies, media and telecommunication officers will be allowed to move around the state starting from Tuesday.
The governor explained that the decision became necessary in the face of raging pandemic, noting that every responsible and responsive government must first and foremost devise effective means of protecting its citizens in an emergency situation.
According to him: “Following a review of our current situation, we have in addition to the subsisting measures taken in the past one week, decided to shut down all our boundaries, effective from midnight Sunday, March 29, 2020. In addition, a complete lockdown of the State will come into effect from midnight, Tuesday, March 31, 2020
“We believe this is the way to go, if we must contain the spread of this virus. To this end, we urge citizens and residents to take advantage of the hours between now and Tuesday to stock up provisions that will last them two weeks in the first instance.
“During the lockdown, there will be no movement within the state. The closed boundaries also means there will be no inter-state movements. However, those on essential duties such as health personnel, fire service, environmental officials, security personnel, power and water supply agencies, media and telecommunication officers will be on duty. Also, pharmaceutical and medical outfits will be allowed to open.
“We have mandated and mobilized the State’s taskforce and security operatives to enforce measures to the latter. We, therefore, strongly advise our people to remain in their homes during the period of the lockdown.
“When an emergency occurs, such as the one at hand, the first priority of any responsive and responsible government is to respond effectively to protect its citizens. This is what we will continue to do”.
Oyetola, however, charged the residents to strictly adhere to government’s directives on certain precautionary measures against the killer disease, saying nothing warrants panic of any form.
