The Oyo State Government through an announcement made by the Governor of the State has announced a ban on all religious activities and ceremonies in the state, OYOGist.com authoritatively reports.
The State Governor made this announcement in a televised broadcast on the State-owned TV, BCOS on late Monday 23rd of March 2020.
The state Governor also revealed that the state’s initial 5 isolation centers have now been reduced to 3, to cater to the quarantining of confirmed coronavirus patients. These centers are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
The new isolation centers are:
1.) Ten-bed isolation center at Agbami Chest Centre, Jericho, Ibadan.
2.)Four-bed isolation center at University College Hospital, Ibadan.
3.) Four-bed isolation center at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
The maternity health center at Olodo has also been converted to the Oyo State Infectious Disease center.
The Governor also revealed that the state government is collaborating with the college hospital, The University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan (UCH) to develop two diagnostic centers in the state.
According to Seyi Makinde, the diagnostic centers are expected to be ready by the end of the week, while the state awaits the validation of the centers from the Niger Center for Disease Control (NCDC).
As part of the measures of the state government to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the State, the Governor announced that all schools in the state are to be closed till after Easter. The governor has also placed a ban on all religious activities, including churches, mosques, weddings, and burial ceremonies in the state.
Governor Seyi Makinde further announced that all nightclubs in Oyo State are closed indefinitely and gatherings must be limited to 30 people or less going forward.
Watch the full video of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde‘s address on Coronavirus below:
Recall that the index case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Oyo State on the 21st of March, 2020. This was 3 days after the Ekiti State government alerted the Oyo State Government of the Ekiti State’s index patient who had spent 2 weeks in Ibadan.
The Oyo State’s coronavirus index patient was traced to Bodija, a densely populated market community close to the Universit of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Governor has also advised residents of the state to continue to observe all measures to curb the spread of the virus, including social distancing and staying at home.
Recall that the Federal Government earlier today issued a directive to all civil servants to start working from home.
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