Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has ordered that all courts be shut immediately. He gave the directive in a broadcast on Friday.
The governor stated they are to remain shut for the next 10 days to enable health workers to fumigate the buildings and premises.
He gave the directive in a broadcast to residents.
The governor also ordered that all staff of the Judiciary in the state and their families should immediately proceed for Coronavirus test.
He announced that the state has recorded its first COVID-19 death, which he described as regrettable and saddening.
“It is unfortunate that we have recorded one death due to this Covid-19 and it makes me so sad,” he said.
“I am directing that in line with the COVID-19 law all the courts in Ebonyi State be shut down for the next 10 days. The Judiciary, State High Court, Industrial Court, Federal High Court, Magistrate court should all be shutdown.
“Also, I advise all the Judiciary officers and their families to undergo COVID-19 tests. I have ordered that all the Judiciary buildings and premises should be immediately fumigated within the 10 days.”
Gov. Umahi advised marketers and religious bodies to take the COVID-19 safety protocols seriously for their own good.
He regretted that people are not taking the pandemic seriously as they ought to and warned that any church or market found flouting the COVID-19 law will be shut.
“We are not contemplating closing markets and churches but we advise them to please take this matter serious(ly). If you are working, ensure that you sanitise yourself every 10 minutes.
“Some people with the virus will argue that they are not showing any symptoms. Yes, your immune system is fighting it but the next person that may be weaker than you is at danger and our job is to protect everybody in Ebonyi.”
“There are some other deaths that are not connected with COVID-19. I want to plead with our hospitals to please isolate any COVID-19 suspected case to our isolation centres so that our people who are sick can get treatment”.
“People are dying because they can no longer get medical treatment. All our attention (is) being diverted to COVID-19 treatment. Sometimes people are afraid to go to hospital because they are afraid they might contract the virus and because they are not sure how the hospitals will handle them. I appeal that people should be allowed to get their normal medical treatment to save lives,” the governor stated.
