The Oyo State Government has called on the State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to adhere strictly to the existing 12 AM to 4:00 AM curfew imposed by the Federal Government by concluding cross-over services in churches earlier, rather than the traditional midnight services held on every 31st of December.
The government further announced a ban on the organisation of street carnivals in its effort at curtailing the spread of COVID-19 which has claimed not less than 50 lives in the State.
The Coordinator of the Oyo State Task Force on COVID-19, Prof. Temitope Alonge, gave the hint during a press briefing, on Tuesday, to update the public on the latest developments regarding the global pandemic in the State.
Alonge reminded the private health care providers and un-well individuals in the State to continue to make use of the testing centres available in all Local Government Areas of the State.
He also enjoined the Oyo State CAN to obey the national directive by advising their members to ensure that crossover services are concluded early as would be done in Lagos State.
Prof. Alonge said, “I know that the Christian Association of Nigeria in Lagos State, after the release from the Lagos State government, had a meeting and directed that churches should, in compliance with the national directive, complete their services early enough to go home.”
“We are asking CAN in Oyo State to do the same, admonish and advice as many of their members to comply with the national directive. It is not an Oyo State directive and we believe that it is for the general good of everybody,” he stated.
Alonge further advised the general public and corporate organisations not to let down their guard in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that it is the responsibility of individuals, families and corporate organisations to adhere to existing COVID-19 guidelines and protocols, such as the use of face masks in public places, physical distancing and regular hand washing.
Revealing the database of Coronavirus in the State, Dr Akindele Adebiyi, a Clinical Epidemiologist working with the Oyo State Emergency Operation Center, said Oyo State has recorded 3,909 confirmed cases and 50 deaths, occasioned by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
He identified Ibadan North and Orelope Local Government areas as hot spots for the pandemic in the State, attributing the high number of cases in the local government areas to the level of tests conducted and willingness of the people to submit themselves to the test.
Adebiyi noted, “Immediately anybody is tested, what we have done in the Emergency Operation Centers, working with the laboratories, is to make sure that the result is available within 72 hours. In the last two weeks, we have recorded 90 cases and so far 50 deaths. What’s really worrying is that the death used to be common among the elderly, those who have underlying conditions but we are now beginning to see one or two people who are young dying from the disease.”
He explained that people have to be more vigilant and adhere strictly to the protocols and guidelines established by the NCDC, pointing out that the trend of the virus has shifted from the aged and people with underlying ailments to teens between ages 10 and 14.
In his remarks, Professor of Virology, David Olaleye, called on Oyo State citizens to go for the COVID-19 test at the 30 collection sites located in the State, in a bid to contain and curb the spread of the virus, as the world battles the second wave of the pandemic.
Zainab Sa’id
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