THE Benue State government on Thursday reviewed measures it put in place to check the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state. The new measures were announced by the state governor, Dr Samuel Ortom, after the Benue State Executive Council met with the Benue State Action Committee on Covid-19 today (21st May, 2020) at Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
According to resolutions presented to the media by Governor Ortom, workers on grade levels 1 to 12, who had been asked to stay at home, are to resume work beginning from June 1, 2020. As they resume, they are “advised to always wear face masks and maintain social distancing.”
Governor Ortom, who urged the people to intensify farming activities, stated that while Churches and Mosques have now been allowed to hold worship session beginning from today. He however directed Churches and Mosques engage in what he called “staggered worship sessions” which said “implies that a Church or Mosque which before now held two worship sessions should henceforth conduct four sessions in a day.”
While the government said markets will be partially opened to enable traders access their shops, it however said street trading is encouraged and can now resume, but under strict observance of social distancing protocols on covid-19.
Revealing that fumigation of markets will be carried out periodically, the governor stated that inter-state movement remains prohibited for all except those on essential services.
According to the governor, while the government has relaxed the curfew that has been in place to last between the hours of 8pm to 6am daily until further notice, schools are to remain closed for the next 14 days when a decision will be taken after reviewing the situation.
