COVID-19: Plateau Unlocks As Schools Remain Closed
BY CHAMBERLAIN ODEY, JOS – The Plateau State government on Thursday announced the removal of total lockdown after nine weeks of consecutive “stay-at-home” option as part of official initiatives to contain the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus in the State.
Speaking in Jos, Governor Simon Bako Lalong, said after due consultations with a broad section of stakeholders, and after careful review of the situation, “total lockdown which has been in place from every Sunday midnight to Wednesday midnight is hereby lifted till further notice “.
Lalong however said that the national curfew as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari which currently becomes effective from 10pm to 6am will still be observed in the state until further directives from the appropriate authority.
Governor Lalong said; “So far, we have tested 2032 persons for Covid-19 in the State. Out of this number, 130 were confirmed positive while we recorded three deaths which unfortunately occurred before their tests results were confirmed.
“At the moment we have 26 persons still on admission, and we have discharged 99 persons. There are 35 persons of interest at our quarantine centres in Pankshin, Quaan Pan, Heipang, and Mangu.
“Following recent release of guidelines by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 on the gradual easing up of the lock down measures and subsequent call for States to take ownership of the processes, the Plateau State government organized a 2-day community and stakeholders engagement with a view to evaluate the Covid-19 protocols for the State”, Lalong explained.
The governor said that the “engagement was also intended to get the views, opinions, experiences, advice, and suggestions of the various stakeholders in order to assist government review the existing protocols and make necessary adjustments”.
The new arrangements however has made the use of face masks in public places compulsory, just as the ban on cultural festivals, anniversaries, and large scale gatherings remain in place.
