Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has ordered all “non-essential” workers in both the private and public sector to work from their homes as part of the efforts to check the spread of coronavirus.
Governor Fayemi gave the directive in the wake of the state’s confirmation of its first Coronavirus (COVID-19) case on Wednesday.
In a statement on Friday, the governor also banned public gatherings of 20 persons and above including worship and prayer services, night vigils, house fellowships and social gatherings
Fayemi, however, stated that health and security workers were exempted from the stay-at-home order, adding that all directives were to be implemented immediately until further notice.
The statement partly reads: “All public and private schools and institutions in Ekiti State are to close down from Monday, 23rd March 2020.
“Also, all non-essential workers in private and public sectors are encouraged to work from home from Monday, March 23.
“These include civil and public servants from level 12 and below; except essential services like health workers, caregivers, social welfare officers, fire service officers, emergency response officers, and security guards/watchmen in public institutions.
“Government officials are advised to keep their phone lines open as they may be required to come to the office when needed.
“All public gatherings of more than 20 persons are prohibited from today, Friday, March 20.
“These include religious gatherings like worship and prayer services, night vigils, house fellowships, and Asalatu; social gatherings like burials, weddings, family meetings and parties of any kind; political gatherings, like rallies, congresses, ward meetings; night clubs, bars, beer joints, and NYSC CDS meetings among others.”
Fayemi also said that public transport operators should refrain from overloading passengers in order to reduce contact with someone infected with the virus.
“No overloading of passengers in public transportation with effect from today. Commercial vehicles must ensure only one person is sitting in the front seat with the driver and not more than three passengers on a row in the backseat. Motorcyclists (Okadas) must carry only one passenger each to minimize close contact as much as possible. Hand washing facilities must be available at all motor parks.”
The governor urged residents to wash their hands regularly with liquid soap under running water multiple times everyday to avoid virus transfer, adding that public places must provide hand washing implements at the entrance and exit of their facility with immediate effect.
He added that market men and women must practice hand washing under running water with liquid soap at least six times a day in their stalls, saying this was to minimize the transfer of virus picked up in the process of buying and selling.
According to him, citizens visiting markets must ensure they wash their hands with soap under running water as soon as they leave the market before they got home.
”Unnecessary travels in and out of Ekiti State is hereby discouraged at this time. While we cannot totally shut down the state, we must minimize unnecessary traffic especially from out-of-state, so we can protect our citizens from further importation of the virus and also protect the rest of the country by minimizing the exportation of any virus which may be present in Ekiti State,” he said.
Fayemi stated that the isolation centre had been equipped with necessary facilities needed by health officials and patients.
