By Michael Adesanya/Abeokuta
The Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has announced the extension of lockdown in the state for another one week due to increase in numbers of coronavirus cases.
The extension will be the third one since the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and Federal Capital Territory.
Abiodun announced the extension while addressing newsmen at the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
He blamed non – compliance with the safety regulations and the community spread of the virus as reasons for extending the lockdown in the state.
Abiodun, who revealed that the number of cases in the state in the last one week have increased with about 30% new cases recorded, stated that the community transmission of coronavirus is on the increase.
He disclosed that so far, it has recorded total number of 134 affected residents as at Thursday night.
Abiodun said: “In my last week briefing, the number of confirmed cases in Ogun State was 100. But, by yesterday, Thursday 14th May, 2020, we have recorded 34 more positive cases of COVID- 19, bringing the total to 134. This shows an increase of more than 30%, in just one week”.
The Governor said in the same period, the state also discharged 20 additional patients who have been successfully treated at isolation centers, and that this was in addition to the 39 earlier discharged thus bringing the total to 59, who have been given a clean bill of health and have since rejoined their respective families.
He also explained that the extension was based on statistical data and feedback from the field, adding that the feedback from the public opinion poll by the people of the state on Twitter also informed the state government decision to extend the lockdown for additional one week.
He stressed that, 53% of the 6,000 respondents of the online poll supported the extension of the lockdown, while 43% of the respondents wanted a review of the lockdown strategy.
He added, “Consequently in view of the evidence of community transmission and poor compliance with the lockdown measures, we are constrained to extend the lockdown for another week till Sunday 24th of May. The current pattern of lockdown, with relaxation windows from 7.00am to 5.00pm on undecided ednesday and Friday.
“We will continue to monitor the level of compliance with the lockdown measures and incidence of community transmission and hopefully, there will be positive developments that will enable us further ease the lockdown at the end of this new lockdown period.
“We must also bear in mind that the daily curfew from 8pm to 6am and the ban on non-essential inter- State travel as directed by Mr. President still stands.
“Interestingly, the feedback from you, the people of Ogun State, from the Public Opinion Poll hosted on the Twitter also support the extension of the lockdown. Out of about 6,000 respondents of the online poll, 53% support the continuation of the lockdown whilst 43% want a review with 4% undecided , ” he concluded.