By Dikachi Franklin, in Owerri
Governor Hope Uzodinma anounced further measures aimed at preventing the spread of the ravaging Coronavirus in in the state even though there has been no reported positive case in Imo State.
Apart from earlier measures he announced, the additional measures came into effect at the weekend and are to be in place until further notice, he said.
All markets are closed indefinitely, all forms of marriage ceremonies are prohibited, all forms of burial and funeral ceremonies are banned.
The governor also said that all forms of open religious worship, church or mosque, are equally prohibited, this includes any form of crusade or open evangelism.
Also he said,all boarders into Imo state are to be barricaded with road blocks manned by a combined team of security agencies and health officials who would ensure that necessary health checks are carried out on anyone entering the state before he or she is granted entry.
And to workers, all civil and public servants were directed to stop work immediately, except those on approved essential services, Governor Uzodinma announced.
A combined team of the military, the police and other security outfits will be deployed to patrol the streets to ensure strict compliance with these directives. These measures may cause some inconvenience or hardship to us but they are inevitable if we are to succeed in our efforts to prevent the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic from coming to our State, he added.
“As I said in my first broadcast on this issue, there is no cause for either alarm or panic. Yet the need to do all we must do to prevent the disease from coming near us cannot be overemphasized.
“We must therefore make the necessary sacrifices to remain safe. I appeal for your understanding and cooperation. These measures will be reviewed on a weekly basis and if it becomes necessary to relax them or to take more measures we will act accordingly”, the Governor stated.
According to him “this administration will always be at your service. Nothing will be spared, time, resources or comfort, to ensure that you are safe and that you remain safe.
There is no denying the fact that we are passing through a very dangerous time occasioned by the worldwide corona pandemic. Every policy directive and action we have taken as a government has only one objective:
” To protect our people and safeguard our children. That is the primary duty of every responsible government. Have courage my dear Imo people. Have faith! Have hope! We shall overcome for God is with us”.
