Breaking!COVID-19: Ondo Govt Shuts Down Schools, Tertiary Institutions

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

As part of the preventive measures against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ondo State Government has ordered the closure of all primary and secondary schools as well tertiary institutions in the state as from y
tomorrow, Friday 20th March, 2020 until further notice.

The state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu stated this on Thursday evening while addressing the people of the state in a live broadcast.

According to him, his administration had taken steps to ensure that the health system is ready to manage the situation effectively in collaboration with the federal government and other development partners.

The steps include; equipping the state infectious disease hospital as a treatment center for the disease.

Upgrading the state disease surveillance network to be able to identify cases and ensure proper community surveillance
Roll out a sustained media campaign on the COVID-19 infection.

Ensure a seamless collaboration with federal government and other development partners.

To further strengthen our capacity to respond effectively to this emergency, we have set up a high level inter-ministerial committee to coordinate state’s response to the COVID-19 challenge.

The committee which is chaired by the Hon Commissioner for Health, has members cutting across relevant institutions and MDAS. The main term of reference of this committee is to activate, coordinate and drive the state response protocols.

Akeredolu said, the committee will engage all stakeholders and explore all means possible to curtail the threat of covid-19.

He said, “In furtherance of this, we have also directed the closure of all primary and secondary schools as well tertiary institutions in the state as from Friday 20th, March, 2020 until further notice.

“This measure is to harvest our children into the safety net for proper monitoring and care. There is no doubt that this global pandemic poses a real challenge to all nations, yet if we all collaborate effectively, we will overcome it successfully.

“One major advantage that our state has is the experience and expertise we have developed over the years from our fight against Lassa fever and other infections.

“We believe this will place us in good stead at this critical period. It is therefore important for members of the public to remain calm, avoid panic and spreading of inaccurate information.

“We therefore wish to use this opportunity to call on all residents of Ondo state to obey and observe the simple, time tested and internationally accepted precautionary measures to fight this debilitating virus.

“We urge us all to fully embrace the hand washing exercise at every interval of our daily activities. We must avoid hand shaking and unnecessary social embrace.

“We must reduce or where possible, postpone, until further notice, ceremonies and other social gatherings.

“We urge us to avoid staying in overcrowded areas and avoid any unnecessary travels outside the state.

“It is important we engage in improved self and family hygiene as well as mobilise our community service providers including traders, drivers, butchers, bank workers, health workers to make use of face mask to cover the mouth and the nose when engaging in their daily activities.

“We hereby task our community leaders, political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, heads of educational institutions, Nigerian medical association, association of general medical practitioners and other health workers, leaders of traders association, women groups, youth groups, transport unions and others to urgently commence a deliberate and comprehensive mobilization of their members to observe these precautionary measures.

“Please let us take these measures seriously so as to wage the war against Coronavirus together and win.

“My dear people, contrary to the misinformation and mischief set to create panic among our people, I wish to stress that no death has been recorded in Ondo state on account of coronavirus so far. The situation as at today is that a suspected case is under intense observation and comprehensive test.

“This process of surveillance and management currently ongoing in this isolated case is part of the standard procedure in dealing with infectious disease outbreaks. We urge us to ignore the unauthorized and unconfirmed statements”.