The state Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who spoke on a radio station, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, on Tuesday, regretted that Aba residents did not follow COVID-19 protocols, leaving them with the highest rate of infection in the state.
He said, “COVID-19 is real; we should all take precautionary measures to avoid it.”
Kalu said the government was not satisfied with the level of compliance of residents with guidelines on facemasks and social distancing in markets, churches, and other public places.
He said, “As a result, the state government will be rolling out plans on new enforcement protocols and further announcements would be made in due course. We intend to shut down any church that is not in compliance.”
On the resumption of schools, Kalu said, “We are not thinking about that right now. The lives of our children are too precious for us to toy with.”
Meanwhile, the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ude Chukwu, at a review meeting with members of the state inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19, said Abia would continue with aggressive testing of citizens.
He called on residents, especially those living in Aba, to take necessary measures to protect themselves.
“Based on reports available to us, our major concern is Aba which appears particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and we wish to call on those living there to take necessary measures to protect themselves”, Oko Chukwu said.
He said the two molecular laboratory equipment procured by the state would arrive at the weekend from the United States of America, assuring the target set by the government of testing at least 10 percent of the population was achieved.