Ekiti confirms second index case, awaits result of another

• State has one ventilator, says government
• Stay-at-home violators risk six months jail term as Oyetola signs
emergency prevention regulations

Ekiti State Government has confirmed that a 42-year-old indigene of the state was tested positive, bringing the number of confirmed cases to two.

The state’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Mrs. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, who spoke with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said that the male patient had been to the Lagos airport in the last 14-days, which could account for his infection.

Yaya-Kolade said that the patient had been admitted into the isolation centre while the environment team would be going to disinfect his premises as soon as possible.

The commissioner further said that another index case, a 23-year-old male, had also manifested some symptoms and is on symptomatic treatment and investigation.

Yaya-Kolade, therefore, enjoined all residents to comply with the government directives to stay at home and observe preventive measures.

Meanwhile, residents of Osun State who violate the current sit-at-home order made by the state government now risk six-month imprisonment following the Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 signed by the state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

Oyetola, who yesterday signed the law in a bid to enforce the lockdown order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in the state, also said that residents found guilty of transmission or dissemination of false information regarding COVID-19 would also be jailed for six months or given an option of fine upon conviction.

The governor noted that he made the order in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution and Osun State Public Health Law aimed at preventing and containing the spread of COVID-19 anywhere within the territories of the state.

“Similarly, the promotion of unverified, untested or unapproved cures, vaccines or other similar items that purport to cure, alleviate or reduce instances of persons infected with COVID-19 constitutes an offence and offenders upon conviction will be liable to six months imprisonment or an option of fine,” he said.