Gov Ikpeazu imposes curfew, orders payment of salary in Abia

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has imposed 6pm to 6am curfew in Abia State from Monday.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, said the curfew was declared to enable expedited contact tracing related to the two coronavirus index cases, as well as ensure enforcement of the subsisting lockdown in the state.

Kalu said while people are free to go out, with face masks, to buy food and drugs from 6am to 6pm daily, everyone must stay at home with zero movement from 6pm to 6am.

He said “this applies to all LGAs in the state without exception.

“Only health workers and those on essential duties are permitted to move to and fro their work place during the period of curfew.

“As at Saturday, April 25, 2020, we have 2 confirmed COVID-19 patients who are above 70 years old and with underlying medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. They are being cared for at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Umuahia, where they were initially admitted as regular geriatric patients with illnesses that are usually associated with people of their age. As at the time of writing this piece, they remain in stable medical condition.

“With the later diagnosis of COVID-19 in those two home-bound elderly persons, the challenge for the government was to control the spread of the virus, deliver care to the patients and prevent new infections in the state.

“The state rapid response team of the medical protocol team of the inter-ministerial committee on COViID-19 has traced 236 contacts of the index cases; they are all currently in isolation and under surveillance. But a total of 132 of the line listed contacts of the index cases are yet to be seen.

“There is a need to conclude the contact tracing process quickly to guarantee that the infection does not spread within our communities. Already, we have received results for 11 contacts of the index cases from NCDC and we are happy to inform that they all are negative.

“We have also received reports of people streaming into our state from neighboring states to buy things at night and leave at dawn. This presents a major infection risk to our people and must be stopped forthwith, hence the curfew.

“While we expect near zero movement during curfew hours, those wishing to buy food and drugs are free to wear face masks and do so. Any individual seen outside without a face mask will be arrested and tried immediately by the mobile courts already set up.

“Based on information available to us, we STRONGLY advise our people to remain at home for the next 7 days while we trace the contacts, test them and analyze the results in order to be sure you can safely go out with minimal risk of infection. Vehicles seen outside during this period will certainly be impounded and the occupants quarantined at a medical facility in the state for a minimum period of 14 days.

“The ongoing lockdown, border closure and imposition of curfew do not make your government happy because we know what it means to keep otherwise hardworking people at home, yet, we must take necessary measures to protect our people from coronavirus that is on rampage. Only the living and healthy can go out to do business and do other things.”

Governor Ikpeazu also directed the state ministry of finance to ensure that civil servants in the state are paid on Monday, April 27, 2020, while subventions and pensions are to be paid the following day, Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

He reiterated that no pensioner is expected to leave his/her house for any form of verification exercise, and that rumours to that effect should be ignored.

“Distribution of food palliatives continued on Friday, April 24, 2020, with 21 churches receiving food items and hand sanitizers. The distribution continues this week with more churches, town unions and traditional rulers expected to receive palliatives on behalf of their needy alongside ongoing distribution by the state geriatric services agency. Kindly note that the palliatives are not for all members of benefitting churches or their leaders, traditional rulers and presidents general, but strictly for vulnerable widows, persons with disabilities and those who are most impacted by the ongoing lockdown.

“We continue to appeal to well to do persons in all our communities to lend helping hands in the true spirit of “Onuru ube nwanne agbala oso,” he said.

He therefore, encouraged anyone who had contacts with the index cases or with medical practitioners that managed them to, call 0700 2242 362 immediately.

“We shall henceforth consider it a crime for those who are supposed to be in isolation to be moving about within the expected period of lockdown,” he warned.