Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has directed that workers in the employee of the state government should stay away from work for the next two weeks, save for those rendering essential services.
The directive takes effect from Friday, March 27.
This is as the Governor also announced new guidelines for public transport operators in the state to ensure proper hygienic standards and social distancing.
The Governor made the disclosures while giving an update on the state’s Covid-19 task force in a series of tweet on Wednesday.
The new directives according to the Governor requires all transport operators and park managers to provide at the entrance to their respective parks/garages, hand washing facilities with soap and running water. They are also to provide alcohol-based sanitizers in their vehicles for the use of drivers, conductors and passengers.
Noting that the confirmed case in the state still stand at one, the Governor said the USA returnee in Oluyole Local Government Area of the state is still asymptomatic and has completed her 14-day self-isolation period.
The statement reads in parts “The Oyo State civil service will shut down for two weeks from, Friday, March 27, 2020. Only workers rendering essential services will be required to report for duty.
“We still have one confirmed case of Coronavirus in Oyo State, the Bodija case, who is receiving treatment at the isolation centre – Agbami Chest Centre, Jericho, Ibadan.
“Additional numbers have been added to the Emergency Operations Centre’s Helplines. Please call these numbers for any issue related to Coronavirus; 08095394000 / 08095963000 / 08078288999 / 08078288800
“The returnee from the USA in Oluyole Local Government Area is still asymptomatic. She has completed her 14-day self-isolation period (March 8-22).
“New guidelines on public transportation have been issued by the Ministry of Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation to ensure proper hygienic standards and social distancing.
“All transport operators and park managers are to provide at the entrance to their respective parks/garages, hand washing facilities with soap and running water. They are to provide alcohol-based sanitizers in their vehicles for the use of drivers, conductors and passengers.
“Standing is prohibited in public mass transit buses and there must be a minimum of one seat interval between passengers. Tricycles are limited to three passengers and commercial motorcycles are limited to one passenger only.
“Enlightenment campaigns on Coronavirus in English and Yoruba have commenced in the media. Street to street public announcements using megaphones have commenced in the rural areas.
“We have received reports of a few private schools flouting the directive for closure of schools. A task force from SUBEB, TESCOM and the Ministry of Education have been authorised to take appropriate action against any school flouting this directive.
“Any school acting in breach of the directive can be reported by calling the Emergency Operations Centre Helplines; 08095394000 / 08095963000 / 08078288999 / 08078288800.
“The Ministry of Health met with religious leaders to ensure compliance with the directive that gatherings are limited to a maximum of 30 persons. They also met with stakeholders in the hospitality industry to ensure compliance with the directive that nightclubs remain closed.”