In view of the Easter celebrations, weekend,Abia State government has relaxed the extended seven-day lockdown in the state.
Secretary of the State Government,Barr.Chris Ezem, in a statement, said there will be free movement of people within the state between the hours of 6am on Friday, April 10(Good Friday) and 2pm on Sunday, April 12 (Easter Sunday), 2020.
“Religious worshippers shall be free to worship at their various churches and mosques but must compulsorily observe the following guidelines:
“Not more than 50 persons per stream of worship and a social distance of 1.5m must be maintained. All worshippers must wear face mask.
“Churches and Mosques must provide a minimum of 4 points for handwashing with running water and soap. Hand sanitizers must also be provided at different points for the use of intending worshippers.”
He disclosed that the State and Local Government Enforcement Teams and Security Operatives will continue to move around to ensure strict compliance.
“Gov.Okezie Ikpeazu hereby enjoins all religious worshippers to use this period to pray for God’s intervention and mercy upon our dear State Abia, our nation Nigeria and the entire world over this dreaded pandemic.”
The statement added that the relaxation order also extends to public gatherings such as burial ceremonies, weddings, meetings, clubbing, stressing that initial order on these activities remain valid and subsisting.
“All our State borders remain closed and Security Operatives must continue to ensure strict compliance.
All public places allowed to operate supermarkets and malls must not entertain more than 10 persons at a time subject to differences in size and must maintain minimum standards of hygiene by providing handwashing materials, sanitizers and digital thermometers.
“Government shall immediately shut down any business concern that flouts these directives.
“Finally, the 7 Day extension shall continue from 3pm on Sunday, April 12 to Friday, April 17, 2020.”
