Adamawa and Gombe States have joined Borno States among the northeastern states to Suspend the lockdown orders meant to tame the spread of Covid-19.
Adamawa state governor Ahmadu Fintiri announced the suspension of the Lockdown in his state in a statement sent to TNG on Thursday evening.
According to Fintiri, “….Churches, mosques and the international cattle markets under lockdown can now reopen, but must ensure social distancing with no more than fifty people at a time. Other measures include provision of hand sanitizers or washing of hands and temperature checks at the point of entry”
He added that “….Government now believe s the contagion rate is low enough to justify a cautious easing of the restriction, but warned that citizens must work extra hard on personal hygiene and strict adherence to laid down guidelines….’
For it’s part the Gombe State Government announced the suspension of lockdown in the state after a meeting with religious leaders in Gombe. Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, also in a statement said places of worship could be opened, only when members wear face masks, keep social and physical distance, as well as maintain regular hands washing and the use of hand sanitizers.
Governor Yahaya said members of aid groups in mosques and the Boys Brigade in churches would be trained to ensure full compliance and the enforcement of the protective measures.
He said face masks would be distributed across all worship centres, but urged people to make durable face masks for themselves, so that they could rewash and reuse.
The Gombe State Governor also said, “whenever the commodities were supplied to the state, the places of worship would be given their own share”.
He, however, warned that any violation of the measures would force him to reverse the decision to ease the lockdown, because “he would not afford to compromise the health of the people of the state”.
The Governor cited examples in some parts of the world, where such ease was introduced, only to escalate the rate of infections in those countries.
He called on the religious leaders to ensure that the conditions agreed on by both religions in the state were adhered to.