Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state; has locked up six entry points
into Maiduguri metropolis to prevent outbreaks and spread of
coronavirus in metropolis.
According to Johns Hopkins University, yesterday’s death toll from
disease; has hit 30,000 from 662,000 global cases.
The locked up entry points into Maiduguri metropolis, are located
along the Maiduguri/Damaturu/Biu/Bama/Monguno/Gubio/and Dikwa roads.
The Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur yesterday at Njimtilo entry point
told journalists that the main entry points that will lock up as at
Monday midnight are; Damaturu/Njimtilo, Bama and Dikwa.
Health workers from the Federal and Borno State Ministries of Health
are already stationed at each entry points to; adopt and implement the
precautionary measures of taking temperatures of residents and strict
adherence to hand washing with soap and social distancing.
Before the lockup of entry points, the State Government inaugurated a
100- bed capacity isolation centre to prevent outbreak and spread of
the deadly virus.
Even though COVID-19 is yet to be recorded in Borno state, the
Commissioner of Health Dr. Salihu Kwayabura yesterday in Maiduguri
said that the inauguration of COVID-19 centre, is part of measures
prevent the spread of virus in the state.
He said the centre, is located at Abba Kyari Memorial Hospital of
Bulabulin Ngrannam, and was also used in fighting Ebola virus in
Borno.
“Other virus fighting facilities were also mapped out to be brought
online should there be need to escalate the response, which we’re not
praying for,” he said.
Continued; “The screening of passengers has commenced at the Maiduguri
International Airport, while port health officials had increased
surveillance at international borders with Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
He said that besides public enlightenment, there was special attention
placed on public places with crowds, particularly the over 1.8 million
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps.
“The Ministry of Health is working in synergy with organisations and
other Ministries of Education, Transport, Environment, Women Affairs
and Social Development; as well as State Emergency Management Agency
(SEMA) to prevent the disease.” he said.
He therefore, urged the people not to panic, but adhere to basic
preventative measures of avoidance of crowds.
“Regular washing of hands and adopting best practices of personal
hygiene, while coughing and sneezing,” he said.
While speaking on symptoms of COVID-19, he said: “We also urged the
people to immediately seek medical attention, when they noticed
symptoms of disease, like coughing, respiratory difficulties,
consistent high fever.”
As closures of entry points take effect from Monday midnight, March
30, 2020, Governor Babagana Zulum in a statement Sunday in Maiduguri,
said: “Only vehicles and trucks transporting food items, medicines,
fuel and other basic goods would be allowed entry into Borno state.
“The closure will last for two weeks in the first instance.”
Zulum also warned that; “With a large population of displaced persons
and refugees due to armed and Boko Haram insurgency, an outbreak of
disease in the state will be difficult to contain.
He said the restricted numbers of passengers has been pegged to three
for public transport, while tricycles are each to carry no more than
two passengers.
It also directed civil servants from grade levels one to twelve to
work from home except those on essential services.
Zulum added that the ongoing verification exercise for council workers
and teachers, have been suspended until further notice.
“I urged banks and other financial institutions and shops to provide
hand sanitizers and temperature monitoring at all operational points,”
he said, noting that this is to maintain social distancing in crowded
areas.
According to him, the state government has put in place palliatives to
cushion the hardship of vulnerable people.
He therefore, called on residents to be calm and intensify prayers to
prevent and end the deadly virus that has claimed over 30,000 lives
globally.
