Ekiti State Government has warned that vehicle owners or drivers that violated existing lockdown directives in the state would forfeit such vehicles to the government.
The warning is contained in a COVID-19 Implementation guidelines released on Monday by the government and signed by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Biodun Oyebanji.
The latest warning came as government began partial relaxation of the hitherto total lockdown, allowing commercial activities that lulled for about one month to pick up again since Coronavirus pandemic was recorded in the state
The new guidelines was read at a COVID-19 update and news conference by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, who said that interstate travels remained prohibited in spite of the lockdown relaxation.
Olumilua said that the implication of the SSG’s statement was that the lockdown was not totally removed.
According to him, only residents can enjoy freedom of movement on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7a.m and 4p.m, while the curfew earlier placed between 7p.m and 6a.m still subsists.
“All the major markets like Oja Oba, Shasha, Bisi in Ado Ekiti remain closed, while only vehicles conveying agricultural products and those engaged in farming will be allowed to move freely with valid identification.
“Schools still remain closed down indefinitely. Compulsory use of face masks still operational while those arrested at the borders will be quanratined for 14 days at their own expense,” he said.
Also, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya- Kolade, said at a media parley that three new cases of Coronavirus recorded in Ekiti were healthcare workers, who contracted the scourge from a pregnant woman, who died two weeks ago.
The Commissioner said: “The three new persons have been evacuated from their homes and put in our isolation centre
“They are currently asymptomatic and we are very lucky, because they had only four contacts. We have seen them and their blood samples have been taken.
“Seven laboratory results are being awaited and we are expecting them. COVID-19 is under containment in Ekiti. There is no community spread. All those that have been infected are traceable people.”
In his own contributions, the Director-General, Office of Strategic Transformation and Delivery, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, said restriction placed on religious gatherings was still in place.
He said that only burials with no more than 20 persons in attendance were exempted.
“ Markets remain one of the places where COVID-19 are contracted, so all major markets are closed down, beer parlours, recreational centres are also closed for the next two weeks,” Aluko said
He charged traditional rulers in border towns to institute community policing to work with security agencies to checkmate influx of people from neighbouring or far states into Ekiti.
“This is very important because the border towns will be first to be ravaged by the disease if it breaks out in Ekiti communities,” Aluko said
