COVID-19 | MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF GOVERNOR OLUWAROTIMI AKEREDOLU’S ADDRESS ON LATEST DEVELOPMENT ON COVID-19 IN ONDO STATE

276 tests have been conducted so far with 244 results. 13 positive cases with 3 discharged while 10 confirmed cases are currently receiving treatment at the IDH, Igbatoro road, Akure.
The five cases recorded last week were imported cases as well as the secondary cases through community transmission.
The two imported cases were those who scaled the borders and brought the infection to the state from outside while the three other cases were those who came into contact with those who had earlier contacted the virus.
The borders are still porous and vulnerable and the compliance to and respect for social distancing and other basic protocols of containment are very weak and unimpressive.
The Governor directed the immediate absorption into the public service the workers at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) who were infected in the course of saving other people's lives.(That is, the driver who carries samples to Test Centres outside the State and the two casual workers in the wards)
The Governor approved that all Health workers in the state be paid 50% of their consolidated basic salary as hazard allowance. Furthermore, all healthcare workers working directly in the Isolation Centre/Treatment Centre are to get additional 20% of their 50% as special risk allowance, they will also get a top-up lump sum from the funds of the PTF (amount yet to be determined).
In order to control the influx of people whose COVID-19 status cannot be guaranteed, the Governor has directed the total blockade of some boundary routes that connect Ondo State to the Neighboring states.
The Governor placed a ban on daily major and community market activities across the state. Out of seven days in a week, concession has been given for only two days of market activities to enable restocking of food items and beverages for families. The days approved are Tuesdays and Thursdays of every week.
The main perishable food supply depot in each of the city centres in the state will only open for business on Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week. That means that only Shasha and Iloro markets in Akure and their equivalents across the state will open for business on the basis of the three day concession.
As currently obtains, the 7pm to 7am curfew subsists. It will remain the state’s home-grown measure in consonance with the general guideline presented by the Federal Government recently.
All business premises, except pharmacies and patent drug and dressing outlets, banks and food chain supermarkets, will remain shut and inaccessible to business and physical interaction until further notice. All worship centres and community sporting activities will remain inoperative as well.
The Governor has approved the establishment of a test centre located at the University of Medical Sciences in Ondo.
Through efforts of the state's COVID-19 response fund committee, the state has been able to increase the bed capacity in its Isolation centres to 210 beds, a tenfold increase in capacity. The committee has directly provided 80 standard beds, 10 ICU beds, 100 Infrared thermometers, 3 ventilators two of which are ICU ventilators. The 80 beds will be used to equip the newly renovated isolation Centre in Ikare. The state has also received 100 beds through the coalition against COVID (CACOVID) which will allow for the expansion of the Centre in Akure and the equipping of the new Centre in Ondo town.
The regulation on compulsory use of face mask has commenced. Government has embarked on mass production and free distribution of same to the people.
The law enforcement agencies and the task force have been directed to arrest anyone caught not wearing properly, the face mask while in public places.