Abia State Government, yesterday, announced that mobile courts would, henceforth, try defaulters of anti-coronavirus measures imposed by the state government.
It also said there would be total lockdown in the state for four weeks from Wednesday next week, which would be subject to review as per prevailing scenario.
This was part of resolutions taken by the enlarged Inter-Ministerial Committee on coronavirus set up by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, where it reviewed the progress made to prevent the disease from afflicting the state as well as put in place other control and mitigation plans for a possible outbreak.
Though there is no confirmed case of the virus in the state, the Committee assured it would enforce previous guidelines of prosecuting defaulters of social distancing and commercial vehicle operators exceeding passenger limits rule, among others.
Meanwhile, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had directed that payment of workers’ March salaries and pensioners must be concluded on Monday and that while workers stayed at homes and awaited possible call to office as the need arises during the lockdown, those on essential services would be exempted.
While only necessary state and interstate travels would be encouraged, some sub-committees were constituted to monitor and screen visitors coming into the state, plan palliative on food availability and another to be reviewing the World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols on the response and management of any outbreak with a view to aligning with existing health infrastructure in the state.
Sellers of foodstuffs are allowed to sell in front of their houses while dedicated telephone lines through which people will avail themselves of medicare of the state Telehealth Initiative free service are distributed in flyers.
Residents are strongly advised against unnecessary movements within and outside the state, while those who are currently outside the state should remain at those locations pending full containment of the rampaging pandemic.
Constituted LGA enforcement teams are to ensure that those holding burials, other ceremonies, church worship streams and sundry gatherings comply with previously issued guidelines.
To strengthen cooperation between medical institutions in the state in the fight against COVID-19 c, a protocol sub-committee has been set up to review and domesticate WHO and NCDC protocols on response and management of any outbreak, with a view to aligning with existing health infrastructure in the state.