COVID-19: Abia Media Practitioners Monitor “Stay at Home” Order

In a bid to carry out its watchdog function in the society, the Abia Online Media Publishers, the umbrella body of All Online Media Practitioners in Abia state, on Thursday, monitored the level of compliance to the stay at home directive declared by the Abia State government to check the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the State.

Recall that the Governor of Abia State, Dr, Okezie Ikpeazu had on April 1st, 2020 during a Statewide broadcast, announced a total lockdown of the state to avert the spread of the virus in the State.

Monitoring on Thursday at Ohiya Mechanic village, a group of persons were seen working on vehicles, while they shouted at pressmen who advanced towards them. Same was the situation at Ubakala junction in Umuahia South LGA as motorcyclists were spotted around the area.

At Abia Tower Express, few vehicular movements were spotted while pedestrians moved about freely due to the fire incident at God is Good Motors around Mission Hill which the prompt intervention of the men of the fire service combatted after razing two passenger buses.

Around Umudike junction, Isi gate, among other areas, visited, few vehicular movements were spotted just as few food sellers were on the ground, but shops were under lock and key.

Speaking shortly after the exercise, the Chairman Abia Online Media Practitioners, Comrade Ugochukwu Nwankwo, said though the compliance level is not 100 per cent, there is need for Abians to maintain the safety measures as directed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) including the stay at home order given by the Abia State government.

He enjoined Abians to maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly with soap, use hand sanitizers, maintain good hygiene among other safety measures.

Meanwhile, Abia state government has announced a relax of the lockdown from 6 a.m to 2 pm from Friday, April 10 to Sunday 12th April 2020.

Correspondent reports that members ended the exercise by observing social distancing which attracted the attention of passers-by.