Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has announced a 14-day total shut down of the state and as well imposed 12-hour dusk to dawn curfew between 7 pm and 7 am effective from midnight on Monday.
Fayemi said,
“Effective from 11:59pm on Monday, March 30, 2020 until 11:59pm on Monday, April 13, 2020, there shall be restriction of movement across the length and breadth of Ekiti State, with all our borders closed.
“That is a full and total shut down of Ekiti State and a 12-hour dusk to dawn curfew in Ekiti State from 7:00pm – 7:00 am. All Ekiti residents are hereby directed to stay-at-home.”
The governor, who spoke in a statewide broadcast, said,
“We are implementing the Quarantine Act to keep all Ekiti residents safe. So, let me be clear. If you do not go home or stay home for at least 14 days as from Monday, 30 March, 2020, you could face serious fines or prison term.
“If we do not take steps necessary to contain this virus, it has the potential to overwhelm our health infrastructure, cripple our economy and devastate Ekiti State in unimaginable proportions.”
Fayemi, however, announced some palliative measures, especially for vulnerable members of the society and low paid workers who might feel the impact of the two-week lockdown. These included activation of food distribution scheme; stipends for self-employed citizens.
“I have directed that the Ekiti State Food Bank be reactivated immediately to provide food items to the poor and vulnerable families in our communities. The Task Force will announce the modalities as soon as the process is fully activated.
“The state government will consider providing a stipend to our self-employed citizens whose daily income will be interrupted at this time as subsidy for their loss of income. I have directed the Commissioners of Finance and Budget to advise on the amount the state can afford in view of our dire financial constraints,” the governor said.
He expressed disappointment with the lukewarm, nonchalant or downright defiance of some residents in observing compliance with the preventive actions to protect themselves from infection and curtail the spread of the virus in their communities.
Fayemi also expressed joy that “as at this morning, Ekiti State has not recorded any additional case of confirmed coronavirus patient while our single patient is doing very well in our isolation centre, still without showing any symptom. We are hopeful that his repeat test will come back negative so he can be discharged soon”.
To ensure the state is free, the governor said,
“We shall commence the disinfecting of major public places like markets, bus stops, motor parks, health facilities, and all likely places where the virus may be lurking across our state. Already, a massive cleanup and disinfection is ongoing in some locations in Ado Ekiti.
“I have also directed the Ministry of Health to begin the process of establishing a second isolation centre in Ado Ekiti. We currently have a 10-bed Isolation Center, but we must begin to increase our capacity up to 100 beds with necessary medical equipment required to manage suffering patients. We have also ordered more PPE for our medical personnel to protect them from infection while caring for the sick”.
According to the governor, during the two-week shutdown, “movement between local governments is prohibited; movement between towns, villages and communities is also prohibited; every person shall be confined to the place where he or she ordinarily resides in Ekiti State.
“All businesses and other entities shall cease operations during this period except those involved in the provision of essential goods or services. Markets, retail shops and shopping malls must be closed, except where essential goods are sold and with strict hygienic conditions to prevent the exposure of persons to COVID-19”.
According to him, those exempted included those performing essential services particularly health workers, members of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary; those into production, distribution and marketing of food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, medicine, paper and plastic packages, environmental and sanitation activities.
Others exempted included staff of electricity, water, telecommunications, e-commerce and digital service providers, members of security agencies assigned on lawful duties; staff of banks and similar financial institutions; staff of fuel stations.
