By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Kwara State government has asked civil servants in the state to from Monday stop coming to office but stay at home and from there carry out works of their offices.
This directive is a part of proactive measures the government has taken to forestall spread to the state of the Coronavirus which currently ravages the globe.
Another action the government took the closure down of all state owned and private educational institutions in the state which also takes effect from Monday.
The government, in addition, also cautioned against gathering of people more than 25 in number.
The state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq who gave the directives on Sunday said the workers only allowed to come to office are those of the state ministry of health and of the essential services
He said all the schools including nursery primary, secondary and tertiary institutions would be closed down.
The govoernor said though the state was yet to record a confirmed case of the virus the government was taking the meausre in addition to those earlier taken to ensure that the state is safeguarded from the virus.
He reiterated the government’s call on the people of the state on the cautions they are required to observe and the need for them to ensure all hands are on the deck to keep the state protected from the virus.
“Even so, basic preventive measures by individuals and communities remain the most powerful tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As individuals, we are all responsible for the general well-being of fellow Kwarans and should work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by:
1) washing our hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as much as possible daily;
2) avoiding touching our eyes, mouths, and noses;
3) covering our mouths and noses with our bent elbow or tissue when we cough or sneeze;4) staying more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick and coughing, and wearing a mask if you are ill (especially if coughing) or looking after someone who is ill and coughing;
5) abstaining from handshaking until the threat of this COVID-19 is zero; and6) avoiding crowded area and minimising any gathering to a maximum of 25.
“As a community, we must do everything possible to prevent any transmission of COVID-19 by embracing the concept of social distancing and self-isolation. These measures are to prevent anyone that may be infected with COVID-19 from spreading the disease to others. An exponential spread of COVID-19 in our community might be catastrophic because we could have thousands of our citizens,” he stated.