COVID-19: Oyo State Government Begins Decontamination, Fumigation

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Government of Oyo State, on Monday, kicked off the decontamination and fumigation of all necessary areas in the State as a way of containing the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

The Government said the decontamination was one of the steps to control and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the State, adding that corporate entities, owners of business spaces and other identified organisations are expected to carry out a similar exercise on their premises.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, who kicked off the exercise on behalf of the governor, said that the exercise was one of the measures taken to contain COVID-19 in Oyo State.

Mrs Adeosun said that the Government is leading by example by decontaminating the length and breadth of the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

She said: “We are leading this process today by example by decontaminating the Secretariat. I have been told that some chemicals are in use, but we should not use them carelessly. So, the team is very specific about where they need to decontaminate.”

Adeosun admonished all and sundry to cooperate with the Oyo State COVID-19 Decontamination and Containment Project Team in the course of discharging their responsibilities of reaching out to business premises and identified organisations in the State to fumigate them.

According to her; “The team will be reaching out to business premises in Oyo State hereafter and all other identified organisations which they believe should be decontaminated. We will like to see your utmost support and cooperation with them.”

The SSG appealed to residents of the State to continue to follow all the guidelines issued by the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force on how the disease could be prevented from spreading in the State, adding that adherence to the directives remained key in the fight against the disease.

“As you have heard from the governor several times, there are many other guidelines given to us, which I will reiterate that we continue to follow.

“We have been told a lot about social distancing. It is very key to us and all over the world in containing the spread of this virus.

“We have also been told that when we need to sneeze or cough, we should use our elbows or handkerchiefs that we can dispose immediately.

“We have also been told that we should not have any gathering of more than 10 people in Oyo State. Remember also that the curfew is still on.

“All these measures are just to ensure that we contain COVID-19 spread in Oyo State,” she said.

She enjoined residents who see signs or have had any contact with a suspected case of COVID-19 to quickly call the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) helplines that had been provided for proper guidance on the step to take.

Earlier, the chairman of the decontamination project and a Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, said that the exercise started 10 days ago and that it was to protect the citizenry from spreading the Coronavirus in the State through decontamination.

Adeyemo said: “It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you here. This is something that started like 10 days ago and I am so proud of the team and what we have been able to accomplish within that time.”