Following a week long total restriction of movement imposed by the Plateau State Government to stem the spread of the dreaded Corona Virus in the State, Gov Simon Lalong has restructured the lockdown to restart Midnight of Thursday 23rd April 2020. However, effective 23:59 hours Wednesday 15th April 2020 the lockdown will be relaxed to allow the public restock ahead of Sunday 19th April 2020 when the total lockdown is expected to take effect.
This was revealed in the Governor’s state wide address on Wednesday 15th April 2020 in Jos. In the broadcast, the Governor noted that
“From the one-week total, lockdown, we have learnt many lessons that will guide our next steps. One of the biggest lessons is the fact that we cannot quarantine hunger”.
Governor Lalong went on to state that “Therefore, Government has taken the following decisions going forward.
i. The total lockdown has been extended to 12 midnight of Thursday 23rd April 2020 to meet the medically stipulated quarantine period of 14 days”.
He went on to note
However, that beginning from 11pm tonight, Wednesday 15th April 2020, to 12 midnight of Sunday 19th April 2020, the total lockdown will be relaxed to enable people go out to restock their homes”.
Stressing that by implication, “…the earlier restriction prior to the total lockdown remain”. The Governor maintained that For the avoidance of doubt, “…all other markets remain closed except those selling food items, pharmaceuticals and cooking gas”. In addition, all illegal street trading, street hawking, and begging are prohibited. He enumerated that “The illegal Sunday markets on Ahmadu Bello Way, Bukuru and environs remain banned. Social joints, Nightclubs, drinking parlours are to remain closed, while restaurants are advised to prepare take away for their customers to avoid crowding”.
In addition, Motor parks are to capture and keep data including contacts of all inbound and outbound passengers as well as adhere strictly to social distancing and mass gathering prohibition order as well as hygiene regulations.
“Vehicles (Keke Napep, Cars and Buses) are to abide by restriction on the number of passenger to carry, which have been spelled out as 1, 4 and 6 respectively”. “Places of worship are to strictly adhere to the 50 persons provision, while maintaining social distancing and hygiene regulations. The ban on all anniversaries and cultural festivals remains in force”.
Governor also addressed the issues surrounding reports that security agencies were making a fortune out of the closure of the state borders by allowing people in at a stake. He stressed that “All entry and exit borders into the State will remain closed with greater reinforcement and CCTV surveillance to ensure total compliance”.
The Governor cautioned that “Anybody who violates this border closure and comes into Plateau will be arrested, prosecuted and quarantined for 14 days until it is confirmed that he/she is free of the disease”.
Nigeria Star News 