…As Govt Sets To Enforce Face Mask Law
By Adeniyi Adedeji, Ilorin
The Kwara State government has explained what seems to be behind the rising figures of COVID-19 cases in the state; just as it will commence going tough on people not wearing face masks from this Friday.
Addressing a press conference in Ilorin, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor: Rafiu Ajakaiye, said it was a good thing that Kwara State government now has a fully equipped COVID-19 Test Centre.
The development, he said, makes it possible to test people and get results within hours, as against the previous practise when samples would have to be taken to far away Ibadan, Oyo State, Ede in Osun and at times Lagos.
The old experience he said, slowed down getting results, was costly and denied the system of having the benefit of going out to fish out infected persons and rapidly attend to the cases.
Besides, he said that people are now more educated on the dire need to help straighten the curves of the pandemic to the extent that people now freely walk up to the COVID-19 Technical Committee’s office to surrender themselves for tests, when they observe some symptoms.
Meanwhile, as from Friday, July 24, wearing of nose masks all over the state has become compulsory; as the government has promised to deal with offenders appropriately.
Ajakaiye also disclosed that the state government will henceforth decisively ensure the enforcement of the protocols of COVID-19 to the letter, including safe/social distancing, using sanitizers, washing of hands with soap and running water, as well as banning social gatherings, club houses and drinking joints.
Other protocols to be enforced include limiting the number of passengers in commercial motor vehicles, tricycles, motor cycles, adding that they risk arrest and prosecution in the event of violations any of the protocols, in accordance with the provision of the Kwara State Infectious Diseases Regulations Act, 2020.
In addition, government plans to meet meet with the leadership of the Muslim community on Wednesday July 22, to discuss the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha – a period of mass gathering and celebration – and agree on the safest way to curb further spread of the virus, Ajakaiye said.
Enjoining citizens to follow the governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his Deputy; Kayode Alabi’s steps by going for tests and surrender themselves for treatment where they test positive, Ajakaiye stressed that that should be done in offices and big organisations.
Ajakaye had said, “As at yesterday Sunday July 19, we have recorded 585 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Out of this, 367 are active while 204 had since been successfully managed and discharged to rejoin their families. We have also recorded 14 deaths so far.
“While testing of more samples has played a key role in the spike of the figures, the truth is that most of our people are simply not complying with safety measures put in place, including physical distancing and the use of face mask, despite the earlier mass production and distribution of face masks.”
