Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
In view of the discovery of one victim of COVID -19 in Ekiti State, the House of Assembly, on Thursday, moved a motion advising Governor Kayode Fayemi to close all schools and other public institutions in the state to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
It also announced the suspension of legislative activities indefinitely as parts of measure to contain the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, had on Wednesday confirmed that a victim had been discovered in Ekiti and had been quarantined at the isolation centre.
The decision to restrict visitors’ movement to the Assembly’s complex was also taken at the Thursday’s plenary held and presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye.
The Chairman House Committee on Health, Hon. Teju Okuyiga under matter of urgent public importance, informed the House of one found case of Covid-19 in Ekiti.
Okuyiga then called for precautionary measures to contain further spread of the diseases.
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Other members who spoke on the matter included, Hon. Yemisi Ayokunle, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, and Hon. Abiodun Fawekun, who suggested that aside the Assembly’s complex, public places like schools should be shut down, atleast for now.
Acceding to the request, the Speaker said : ” Activities at the Ekiti House of Assembly is hereby suspended as suggested by members, until further notice when the tension about the dreaded Corona virus is doused.”
He, however, allayed the fear of residents, saying though the Covid-19 is real but that the government is on top of the situation.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS has called on the government to close down schools with immediate effect to prevent further spread of the disease.
In a statement he signed in Ado Ekiti, ASSUS Chairman Com. Sola Adigun, noted that such would prevent the close group interactions which could hasten the spread of the virus among very active adolescents in Secondary Schools.
Adigun who said since the announcement of the index case in Ekiti and the American who reportedly died in less than 72 hours of arrival, many families are worried and willing to have their young ones under close monitoring.
He observed that Kwara, a neighbouring state which has not recorded any case has already taken precautionary measure by closing down its schools, while developed nations with sophisticated medical Technology had earlier done so.
Comrade Adigun who stated that nothing much would be lost to closure since the academic session was almost concluded in the state, called on the government to ensure that more hand wash basins, soap and sanitisers were provided in all the schools before the resumption.
The ASUSS chairman who commended Governor Kayode Fayemi for the proactive step the administration took in confronting the challenge.
He also called on stakeholders to support the government through aggressive campaign and by adhering to all the precautionary measures and personal hygiene.