COVID-19: Ogun State Relaxes Lockdown Every 48 Hours as Sit-at-Home Commences

Coronavirus, Ogun State Government said the total lockdown imposed on the State which commenced by 11.00pm of Friday, will be suspended every 48-hours, to mitigate the effects of the sit-at-home directive.

The governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun while addressing newsmen at his residence in Iperu-Remo, on Friday night,  said that the lockdown will be lifted by 7.00am and 2.00pm on Tuesday and subsequently every other day  to allow operations of essential services.

He explained that personnel of essential services providers such as security and fire service personnel, petroleum products dealers, food producers and water distributors would have unlimited access to movement to perform their duties.

The governor added that the period of the lockdown would be used to decontaminate the state public places such as markets; motor parks and other essential areas across the state.

He also added that the state will  in the next couple of days unveil the first fully state funded molecular laboratory in Nigeria, stressing that this will turn around test time from the current average of three to five days to eight hours.

“In the next few days, the first state fully funded Molecular Laboratory in Nigeria will be unveiled in Ogun State.

“This will reduce the test turnaround time from the current average of three to five days to eight hours, minimise the anxiety of screened individuals and their families while the test is awaited, and also minimise the exposure of health professionals,” the governor added.

On the distribution of stimulus packages to residents, most especially the poor and the vulnerable ones, Abiodun, assured that 100,000 homes would be reached in the first instance, as distribution starts today (Saturday).

He said, “The government is providing immediately various food items, neatly packed, to 100,000 households across our state in the first instance.

“The target is to reach 500,000 households in all. The objective is that whilst this number may not capture all the residents of the state, it will reach significant number of the intended beneficiaries, the poor and the vulnerable.”