The Abia State Government has commenced the community testing for COVID-19 in the 17 local government areas and also disclosed the new operation time for bus drivers and Keke operators in the State.
This was made known by the Secretary to Abia State Government/Chairman Inter-Ministerial Committee on Covid-19, Barr Chris Ezem in a press release made available to Newsleverage on Tuesday.
The statement reads below;
“Community testing for Covid-19 in the various Local Government Areas is ongoing in Abia State. This measure was adopted by the Government to break the current chain of community transmission of the deadly coronavirus and to flatten the curve of our numbers in the days ahead.
In the light of the above, Government directs all Local Government TC Chairmen to give maximum cooperation to the Medical Team and to ensure they mobilize council members, their Aides, traditional institutions and their subjects, women, men, youth and their executives not excluding their urban and rural dwellers to submit themselves for sample collection. Government warns that any Local Government that does not meet the minimum number required will be sanctioned immediately.
The government also directs that should the breach of Covid-19 protocol at burials and weddings persists, it may be forced to declare a total lockdown on weddings and burials in the State.
Government further mandates all market to ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocol failing which government will shut down any erring market including dissolution of such market union.
The attention of the government has been drawn to the current security challenge posed by Keke and bus drivers. Consequently, the government hereby directs that from July 22, 2020, Keke operators are to operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m daily and bus drivers from 6 a.m to 9 p.m daily. All security agents and our various task forces are to ensure total compliance and impound any violator including the prosecution of the operator. Keke and bus operators must ensure that they do not carry beyond the prescribed number, all wearing their face mask.
Government appreciates all our donors and all those who are helping massively in the fight against the Pandemic and urges all Abians to stay safe; give their maximum support to ensure that the community testing exercise for COVID-19 in the state records a huge success.”
