Following the death of the Emir of Kaura Namoda, Mohammed Asha, who died on Sunday from coronavirus complications, the governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has announced the closure of all markets as well as the suspension of congregational prayers in mosques and churches across the state as part of additional measures to contain the community transmission of Covid-19.
As of Monday, the state had 12 confirmed cases of the virus, with one death. He said the situation in Kaura Namoda was especially worrisome considering the increased number of people dying of recent in the area, including its emir. He said the family of the late Emir had been quarantined and fumigation of the palace and major areas of the city had equally been done.
Matawalle said the new measure is for an initial period of one week. He lamented the nonchalant attitude of the people towards safety rules of social distancing, use of facemasks and hand sanitizers and appealed to the residents to adhere to all the safety protocols in order to reduce the further spread of COVID-19 in Zamfara.
In another Covid-19 development, the Lagos State government yesterday said it will not hesitate to blacklist any contractor or firm found flouting COVID-19 guidelines at construction sites. The Lagos state Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, disclosed that the warning has already been cascaded to all contractors and professionals working at its various housing schemes across the state.
He enjoined all contractors and other professionals on-site at its various housing schemes to comply strictly with the recently released COVID-19 Guidelines on Construction Sites in Lagos State. Also, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola, said all scheme officers have been directed to henceforth be at alert that no ongoing project has more than 15 workers per construction activity.
He said: “All contractors have also been mandated to make adequate provisions for washing of hands and alcohol-based sanitizers for their work gangs. Social distancing of not less than five feet including compulsory use of facemasks should be adhered to by all workers on the sites.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has warned that the command would begin clampdown on persons found on the streets without facemasks. Odumosu, who addressed newsmen after a prolonged meeting with Area Commanders and principal officers of the command at the headquarters hinted that the curfew would be enforced everywhere in Lagos to the latter.
According to him, “this time, police will not arrest you for vehicle particulars, but for refusing to put on a facemask and not keeping social distancing. Okada activities have also been suspended. Since we started the lockdown, we have not had any case of police brutality in Lagos, because we are using persuasive enforcement, and we will continue with that.”
