Nigeria

COVID19: Akwa Ibom governor says no need to shut down schools

Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 3:17 PM by Jerrywright Ukwu

- Akwa Ibom state schools will remain open despite the spread of COVID19 in Nigeria

- The state governor says the decision was taken because the schools will go on holiday in a week's time

- The governor asked residents of the state not to panic but to practice personal and respiratory hygiene

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has again assured the people of the state that there is no need to live in panic and fear over the spread of COVID19 also known as coronavirus in Nigeria.

The governor said his administration has put in place modalities to ensure that the state maintains its clean slate against the global pandemic.

The governor also said there was no need to shut down public schools in the state as they are due to close within a week.

COVID19: Akwa Ibom governor says no need to shut down schools — Governor Emmanuel says Akwa Ibom government has put in place modalities to ensure the pandemic does not spread to the state.
Source: Facebook

The governor made the statement on Saturday, March 21 during a statewide broadcast to Akwa Ibomites.

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He, however, appealed for utmost caution and a deep sense of rationality, especially from the media, in the manner of reportage of the global pandemic, assuring that the state has recorded no case so far.

He said even before the first confirmed case was recorded in Nigeria, he had since set up an Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Task Force with a charge on the Akwa Ibom state commissioner for health to remain on top of the situation.

“The Emergency Operation and Treatment Centre is ready to serve as an isolation/treatment centre to receive, and care for any confirmed case of COVID-19 infection if it occurs,’’ the governor stated.

He assured that surveillance, prevention and infection control measures have been instituted in government hospitals, while Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) have been distributed to all health facilities to facilitate infection prevention and control.

He, however, advised all Akwa Ibomites to observe simple rules of personal and respiratory hygiene.

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While Akwa Ibom schools remain open, other states are not taking any chances.

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In Osun, the state government has ordered the closure of all public gathering including churches, mosques and schools to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

The order was contained in a statement on Thursday, March 19 by the state governor, Gboyega Oyetola and sent to the media by his spokesman, Ismail Omipidan.

The situation is the same in Delta as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has directed the closure of all primary, secondary and tertiary schools in the state with effect from Thursday, March 26 for 30 days due.

Okowa, a medical doctor by training, gave the directive in a state broadcast in Asaba on Friday, March 20, stressing that the decision was aimed at preventing possible spread of the virus.