BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – In order to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not spread further among people of Bauchi State, the government has declared that it would enforce the compulsory observance of social distancing at worship centres and other public places across the state without preference.
The State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, who announced this while briefing journalists on the resolutions reached at the second meeting of stakeholders held at Command Guest House, Bauchi on Thursday, lamented the non-adherence to the protocol of maintaining social distancing at public places, stressing that observing social distancing is key against spread of the infection among the people.
Mohammed said that on its part, the state government will provide enough face masks for the citizens before making the wearing of mask mandatory by all.
The governor further said; “After deliberation, the stakeholders which comprises religious leaders, elites, technocrats and government have come to the decision that the partial lockdown is working and that we have curtailed the transmission through the index infection with the virus.
“We will continue with the partial lockdown till the end of the Ramadan, but we will enforce observing social distancing at worship centres, markets and other public places”.
The Governor also said that the state government will intensify surveillance, contact tracing and enforcement of the order for the closure of borders in an effort to tackle further spread of the disease.
He said; “Total lockdown will be enforced in our borders to curtail community transmission of the virus as the state government has realised that all the current cases are coming from people who came into the state from the areas the disease became pandemic especially, Lagos, Kano and Abuja.”
The governor pleaded with community leaders and all the stakeholders to be wearing face masks always in order to encourage others to emulate and assured that the state government will continue to work on its own peculiar way of making sure there is community and stakeholders engagement before taking any decision.
In his words; “We have also resolved to intensify prayers, sensitisation and we must conduct ourselves by being example to others through compliance with the protocols against infection with Coronavirus disease.”
The Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu, who is the Chairman of the State Palliative Committee, pledged to support the state government to deliver as expected.
