Borno records three new COVID-19 deaths

Bauchi gov signs Executive Order on lockdown
Borno State COVID-19 Response Team has recorded three more deaths from the virus.

While announcing the new deaths yesterday in Maiduguri, Secretary of the response team, Dr. Salihu Kwayabura, who also doubles as the Commissioner for Health, said the additional three deaths, were fresh, and not related to the cases in Pulka and Biu.

He explained that the virus was contracted in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Council of the state.

On the testing capacity of the team, he said: “The state government has scaled up its testing capacity to 500 a day,” noting that most of the surveillance and contact tracing are carried out in communities.

According to him, with the upgrade of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) laboratory, 1,000 tests could be conducted daily.

In Bauchi State, Governor Bala Mohammed has signed an Executive Order to enable the state prosecute lockdown offenders.

While signing the ‘Bauchi State Infectious Disease Prevention 2020’ into law, Mohammed said it was drafted to save lives and property in the state, urging the residents to abide by the order to avoid sanctions. He said those who violate the partial lockdown order would pay fines.

He said, “Pedestrians will pay N5,000, essential workers without face mask will pay N5,000 while violation of physical distancing order attracts N5,000.

“For the traffic violators, motorcyclists will pay N5,000, tricycle operators N10,000, vehicles crossing closed borders N20,000 while trucks will pay N30,000.”

He asked the state Chief Judge to establish mobile courts.

Essential workers, according to him, include health workers, medicine stores, fire service, security personnel, food and and beverage stores, fuel tankers and trucks conveying food items among others.

Bauchi had last Thursday declared partial lockdown.

Mohammed added, “We have closed all our borders, markets and banned the operation of commercial motorcycle while tricycles must not carry more than a passenger. We have also suspended all the public gatherings, especially during this month of Ramadan.”

To complement Kebbi State government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, the state’s multipurpose cooperative union has commenced the production of face masks.

The production was in collaboration with the Kebbi State Ministry of Women Affairs.

The cooperative organised a two-day workshop for women to sensitise them on preventive measures against the pandemic.

“To boost Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which is part of its mandate, a workshop was held on April 18 and 19, 2020 for 100 women from across the 21 councils of the state,” said Chairperson of the Cooperative, Hajiya Hajara Kangiwa.

She added that the women were taught to produce hand-made cotton face masks.

Each session comprised of 25 women in order to adhere to social distancing preventive measure.

Addressing the participants, Kangiwa said the outcomes were expected from the participants after the workshop held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Birnin Kebbi.

Permanent Secretary State Ministry for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Maikurata, in her opening remarks, charged the women to take precautions against the pandemic.