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Governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Dave Umahi, Monday banned all forms of public gathering including wedding ceremonies, burials, conferences and seminars in the state.
The ban will stay in force for the next one month, the governor said.
Umahi disclosed the ban during a town hall meeting at the International Conference Centre Abakaliki, the state Capital.
Represented by his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, the Governor said the ban was part of measures to protect the people of Ebonyi state from contacting the deadly COVID-19 which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
Explaining the ban on burials, he said: “It is painful to take the decision but government is of the well considered opinion that it is better, under the circumstance, to let the dead bury the dead for now. But if you feel that you cannot wait, then you can take the corpse and bury yourself and just your family, without any ceremony and invitation to anybody”.
The Governnor also said Civil Servants in the state shall from the 25 of March be advised to work from home.
He however said those on essential services shall be exempted from the order.
The Governor warned traditional rulers and council Chairmen against shielding any person suspected to have contacted the virus.
He instructed that anybody suspected to have contacted the virus should immediately be taken to the nearest health centre for onwards referral to the state isolation centre, which has been built at the Unity Square Abakaliki, for proper treatment and care.
Source: New Telegraph
