Abiodun extends lockdown by another week

The Ogun state governor has announced another one week lockdown. It  begins  on Monday, 25th and ends on Sunday 31st, 2020.

 Abiodun said the new lockdown became necessary following the increase of new cases recorded in the last one week.

He said against the eased of lockdown, the state has recorded an increased of over 37% which amount to 49 new cases in the last one week, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases to 183.

He equally announced that, another set of 36 patients have been discharged and reunited with their families bringing the total number of discharged patients to 97.

According to the governor, 80 active cases who are currently receiving care and treatment at treatment centres across the state. 

He said, “I am pleased to report that the rate of recovery is encouraging and reassuring. We pray that this continues to be the case. But we cannot ignore the fact that we are having a sudden rise in the number of new cases. We all decried an increase of 30% last week when I was giving the weekly update.

“In this regard, the last one week has been quite eventful, albeit unusually. There were two significant situations that I must brief you on. First, the week recorded the highest number of confirmed new cases of COVID-19 in our dear State since the index case in February, 2020. In fact, on one single day, on Tuesday, 19th May, we recorded 25 new cases. 

“The total new cases in the last one week is 49, thus bringing the cumulative total of confirmed cases to 183. I am delighted that a new batch of 36 cases who have been successfully cared for at our Treatment Centers have 
been given a clean bill of health to rejoin their families, thus bringing the total number of those discharged to 97. 

“Cumulative number of discharged patients to date which is 97 or 53% of total positive cases is an improvement over the comparative figure of 59 or 44% of last week We thank God that we did not record any new mortality from the virus in the last one week, though we have regrettably recorded a total number 6 mortalities. 

This leaves us with 80 active cases who are currently receiving care and treatment at our Treatment centers. I am pleased to report that the rate of recovery is encouraging and reassuring. We pray that this continues to be 
the case. 

“But we cannot ignore the fact that we are having a sudden rise in the number of new cases. We all decried an increase of 30% last week when I was giving the weekly update. This week’s increase of over 37% is even more worrisome, particularly as we are still under an eased lockdown. And, considering the demography and location of the confirmed cases, we can confirm that community transmission is on the increase in our State.

“Our approach of increased testing capacity and faster turn-around of results is yielding the desired result of tracking the prevalence of the spread of the virus, particularly in our border communities. It is noteworthy to mention that the team from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) arrived today to certify our molecular laboratory in Sagamu, this laboratory should be available for use in the next few days. This will further boost our testing capacity from the current 450 tests to 600 tests per day. We will continue to be guided by science and data which has allowed us to model the prevalence of the spread of the virus, anticipate and prepare accordingly.

“However, I must say that the level of compliance with the laid- down precautionary measures in the fight against COVID-19 is not yet at the desired level. Some people still flagrantly flout the Presidential ban on inter-State travel for non-essential services and the daily night curfew. For example, four people from Kotangora, Niger State, were intercepted right in front of the Governor’s Office, here at Abeokuta on Monday, this week. What is worrisome is how they managed to beat all the security barricades along the state borders and within the States that they passed through before getting into our dear State. Whilst we are battling with internal migration, the immigrants from outside the country through our international land borders have also not given up, despite the closure of international borders. Nineteen (19) nationals from Togo and Ivory-Coast 
were intercepted after crossing into Ogun State, nay Nigeria through illegal land border routes on Wednesday. They are being quarantined at Idi-Iroko, pending repatriation back to their countries.

“On the domestic front, many of our people are yet to fully appreciate that their welfare and well-being are their personal responsibilities. Many are still not complying with the precautionary measures and guidelines. In the last one week, the security agencies apprehended and charged before the Mobile Courts 224 violators of the lockdown and Presidential directive on curfew.