By Angela Nwaeze Mbaocha
Ebonyi state governor, Engr. David Umahi has explained why his office decided to exempt worship centers, banks, markets and hotels from service centers that were placed under ban in other to avoid the spread of deadly coronavirus disease in the State.
Umahi said that for now, that no case of coronavirus disease has been recorded in the South East, and as a result his office decided to let the activities of these institutions continue.
The Governor stated this on Tuesday during a state broadcast on the COVID-19 at the Exco chambers Government House, Abakaliki.
He reaffirmed that if there’s any need in the future for these institutions to be shutdown, that he will not hesitate to do so.
He maintained that the state still bans burial ceremonies, wake-keep, naming ceremonies, weddings outside the religious premises, conferences, crusade and drinking bar of more than 50 customers.
The governor however directed all religious institutions and all Centers for Essential Services to provide nose masks, running water and ensure that every person entering and exiting do wash their hands in a running water and use of sanitizers and distancing.
His words: “The gathering of more than 50 persons other than in the essential service centers such as Markets, Ricemills, Religious Centers, Banks, Hotels, and other essential Service Centers shall be an offence”.
“We have advised all religious institutions and all Centers for Essential Services as mentioned above to provide nose masks, running water and ensure that every person entering and exiting do wash their hands in a running water and use sanitizers, gaps must be created among people within these essential Service Centers”.
“We have had meetings with Christian Association of Nigeria and the Muslim Community and we have agreed that we shall not shut down religious institutions for now as no case is recorded in South East. God forbid, should it become necessary tomorrow to shut down religious institutions, our Government shall be bold enough to do so after meeting with religious leaders”.
