Kaduna State Government has threatened to review the ongoing lockdown, by closing the two-day window that it has provided for residents to re-stock food supplies, if the people continue flouting the Quarantine Law.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe who handed down this warning on Monday, also said that Government has ordered security agents to deal decisively with violators henceforth.
This is coming as the State recorded one new case of COVID-19 last Sunday, bringing the number of positive cases to five, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed Baloni revealed.
In a press statement she issued on Monday, Dr Baloni said that ‘’So far, the State has sent 89 samples to Abuja for testing, among which 5 samples were positive, 77 samples were negative, and 8 samples are pending. 119 contacts have been listed and further contact tracing is ongoing.’’
On the threat of a restoration of a 24-hour lockdown, a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye on Monday, said that Dr Balarabe is alarmed that some people take the Coronavirus disease for granted which explains why they are defying the lockdown.
It will be recalled that the State Government had reviewed the 24 hour lockdown last Wednesday, by giving a two-day window of Tuesday and Wednesday every week, to enable residents buy food and other essential commodities.
The Deputy Governor who noted that the restriction of movement has been serial violated, threatened to revert to the 24 hour lockdown, the Special Adviser quoted her as saying.
The statement further said that the State Task Force on Covid-19 met with representatives of traders and resolved that dealers of foodstuff and essential commodities are permitted to bring in and offload their goods five times in a week, including Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The Deputy Governor warned that only food and essential commodities will be sold on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when markets open, adding that ‘’sellers of other merchandise are not included in the exemption.’’
Dr Balarabe also advised residents to shop only in markets within their neighbourhoods as going to far-flung commercial hubs is not allowed.
The statement further advised traders and buyers to observe social distancing at the markets, warning that ‘’Kawo market will remain closed because it does not have space for social distancing.’’
The Deputy Governor warned traders to desist from hiking prices of commodities during this emergency period, describing the practice as callous, unacceptable and inhuman.
Dr Balarabe also warned that government will prosecute the people she referred to as ‘’unscrupulous traders’’ if they do not to desist from this un-Godly act.
‘’At this time, we will not just stand by and let a few elements add to the hardship already being faced because of selfishness,’’ she further warned.
The statement said that palliatives are being distributed from clusters to households and in some local governments, the target beneficiaries have already received deliveries.
‘’However, to ensure more transparency and accountability, the Palliatives Committee will work with credible Civil Society Organisations(CSOs), to monitor the distribution,’’ she added.
Dr Balarabe said that the administration has ‘’ put in place a robust system to check abuse and diversion of these essential commodities as a Government which is anchored on integrity.’’
‘’Notwithstanding, no system is completely foolproof and in any case, another layer of monitoring will only improve on what is on ground’’, the Deputy Governor argued.
Dr Balarabe also implored ‘’those that have been charged with the responsibility of identifying vulnerable groups and persons within communities to do so in a manner that depicts fairness, honesty and sincerity of purpose,’’ stressing that ‘’we all should be looking out for one another at this time and always.’’
The statement called on well meaning individuals to contribute either in cash or in kind, towards bringing succour to the needy.
According to Dr Balarabe, ‘’the Resource Mobilisation Committee will communicate to our major contractors, investors and corporate bodies, as well as donor agencies and development partners, to solicit for their support in that vein‘’
‘’In addition, modalities are being worked out to ensure that political appointees also contribute to this noble cause,’’ the statement further said.
The Deputy Governor promised that ‘’the cash donations will be put in dedicated bank accounts and will be used to fund COVID-19 related activities including procuring food items for the vulnerable persons within the society.’’
Dr Balarabe revealed that a company has offered to produce masks in Kaduna State, which will make it cheaper for all and sundry to use, all in a bid to contain the disease.
‘’Similarly, the United Kingdom’s Department of For International Development(DFID) has approached the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria(DICON), to supply raw materials for the production of hand sanitisers locally.’’
Dr Balarabe urged residents to continue passing on the message of social distancing, washing the hands regularly with soap and running water, so as to forestall community transmission of Covid 19.
Meantine, according to the State Commissioner of Health, ‘’the State Government has been taking vigorous actions to contain the spread of COVID-19 since February, by reaching out to the Chief Medical Directors of all hospitals in the state, daily evaluation of the pandemic and devising new ways to check the spread.’’
The Commissioner further said that the ministry has set up an Emergency Operation Centre(EOC), which is chaired by the Commissioner of Health and meets every day, to take proactive measures.
Dr Baloni further said that the ministry has ‘’ reactivated and strengthened the Infectious Disease Control Centre(IDCC), by posting trained health workers to the facility, who are currently caring for our patients.
‘’In addition, the ministry has also concluded arrangements for the take-off of an alternative isolation centre which has 69 rooms, where mild to moderate cases will be managed,’’ she added.
According to the Deputy Governor, ‘’the facility is expected to be ready to receive patients this week. ‘’
‘’In the same vein, Kaduna State Government has also concluded arrangements for the establishment of a testing laboratory in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital(ABUTH), Zaria, for quick diagnosis,’’ she revealed.
Dr Baloni advised that ‘’cooperating with disease control efforts will reduce the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19 and therefore, reduce the possibility of a community transmission.’’
The Commissioner said that the State has conducting massive mobilization both on electronic and print media, including social media, to sensitize the public on the danger of this pandemic.
‘’In addition, different sub committees have been put in place to coordinate response to the disease which include the surveillance, Laboratory, coordination and Risk Communication teams. Likewise, training of health workers is also ongoing,’’ she added.
Dr Baloni commended ‘’the frontline health workers who are taking care of our patients and the various professional bodies, Development Partners and individuals who have reached out to support the State Government’s efforts.’’
She called on traditional rulers, community leaders and religious leaders to ‘’continue mobilizing their people on the importance of hand washing, respiratory hygiene and obeying Government’s stay at home directive, as well as maintenance of social distancing in order to avoid spread of the disease.’’