Coronavirus second wave: Obaseki suspends schools resumption, reviews curfew to 10pm

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has reviewed the curfew earlier imposed in the state to now span from 10 pm to 5 am to check rising cases of COVID-19 in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic.

The governor, who rolled out several measures to halt the spread of the virus in the state during a press conference in Government House, Benin City, also announced the suspension of schools’ resumption to February 1, 2021.

Those in attendance at the conference include the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Edo State Coordinator, World Health Organisation (WHO), Mrs Faith Ireye; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Osamwonyi Irowa; the Edo State COVID-19 Incident Manager, Dr Andrew Obi, among others.

Read Also: Ekiti imposes curfewObaseki said the state government has built a robust response mechanism while dealing with the first wave of the coronavirus, but that data from the comparison between the first and the second wave of the pandemic showed that there was a need to take drastic measures so as to limit the spread of the new wave of the virus, which has been confirmed to be more virulent and infectious.

According to him, “Comparing the first six weeks of the pandemic from March 23, 2020, with the first six weeks since December 1, 2020, Edo State has witnessed an 84.5 per cent rise in the number of infected persons.”

On the new directives to halt the spread of the virus, he said the general recommendations are that individuals, groups and organizations must take responsibility to avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close contact.

“Curfew is now reviewed from 10 pm to 5 am effective Saturday 16th January 2021,” he added.

On schools’ resumption, Governor Obaseki said schools are to remain shut till February 1, 2021, when the prevailing realities are to be reviewed to determine if it would be safe to reopen the schools.