Breaking News: Delta Extends Lockdown For Another 14 Days

By Miracle Enuji

Delta State Government has announced an extension of the 14 days lockdown order put in place to contain and curtail the spread of the deadly Coronavirus disease, COVID-19 by another 14 days.

The State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa disclosed this in a news briefing this Tuesday Morning at Government house Asaba, telling Deltans that the extension is necessary to identify, isolate and detect cases. “It is for public good and interest of our health. I urge all Deltans to cooperate with us”.

This extension brings the total lockdown days to Four Weeks, as he has also directed the state Commissioner of Police to ensure a strict enforcement of movement from dawn to dusk.

It will be recalled that on March 26, Governor Okowa announced modalities for close down of businesses, human movement and total lockdown of the state.

However, the lockdown period which kicked off April 1, was greeted with mixed feelings, and witnessed the murder of a youth by a soldier in Warri on the second day of the statewide lockdown.

Further, in the past 14 days, the State recorded its index case of COVID-19, its first death from the Coronavirus and a total of three positive cases of the virus infection.

Christians for the first time since the creation of Delta State, celebrated Easter behind closed doors due to the lockdown order which also brought to a halt all forms of social, political, religious or traditional gatherings.

Governor Okowa in his briefing, disclosed that distribution of food items stored in the food bank in Ibusa will commence within the next 48 to 72 hours to Deltans irrespective of political leanings.

On the status of the two cases of COVID-19 in the State, Okowa informed that they were responding to treatment at the Oghara and Asaba treatment centres adding that, a total of 70 contacts have been identified with the three cases recorded in the state with 46 persons already reached who are now in self isolation at their homes and in government isolation centres.

Okowa also disclosed that cloth-face masks produced by the State Government will soon be rolled out for a statewide distribution by weekend.