Government locks down Kwara from 6pm today

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• NMA to sanction members treating COVID-19 without PPE
• UITH to publish report on suspected case
• Ishaku relaxes Taraba lockdown

Kwara State Government has announced total lockdown of the state from 6pm today. The new measure banned all vehicular movement, including private vehicles, all manners of shops and markets.

Food sellers and operators of medicine stores are allowed to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10a.m. and 2p.m.
Announcing this at a news briefing in his office yesterday, the deputy governor and chairman, Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, Mr. Kayode Alabi, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by the people of Offa on the lockdown order placed on the town since Tuesday.

He thanked the Federal Government for its support for the state and urged the residents not to panic, but strictly adhere to all the safety measures on COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara chapter, has said that any of its members treating or consulting patients without Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) risks severe sanction.

According to a statement issued yesterday in Ilorin by the chairman, Dr. Kolade Solagberu, and secretary, Dr. Majeed Mohammed, the association noted that there was inadequacy of PPEs in majority of the public and private hospitals in the state, demanding more of such equipment as its members battle the pandemic.

Besides, the NMA said there was lack of preparedness for the pandemic by majority of the hospitals in the state.

In another development, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) has promised to make public the report of its committee on the culpability or otherwise of one of its senior consultants over the admission of a suspected case of COVID-19 at the Accident and Emergency wing of the hospital.

The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mrs. Elizabeth Ajiboye, in a chat with reporters yesterday in Ilorin, said the management, knowing the import of the development, would not sweep the report under the carpet.

In Taraba State, Governor Darius Ishaku yesterday relaxed the lock down earlier imposed on the state.

According to a statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, earlier closed down markets, shops and other businesses are now allowed to operate between 8a.m. to 2p.m. daily.

Though human and vehicular movements are as well allowed within the stipulated time, the need for the people to still avoid large gatherings by observing social distancing, the governor said, has become relevant to the prevention of the virus from invading the state.