COVID-19: Gombe suspends inter-state travels, public gatherings

Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state has announced the suspension of inter-state travel from midnight of March 30.

Gov. Yahaya said this in Gombe on Friday, during a news conference on preparedness of the state to curb spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Although, we have not recorded any case of coronavirus in the state, however, we want to take precautions like others where inter-state travel has been restricted to curtail spread of the disease. I want the general public to know that the restriction affects both commercial and private vehicles,” he said.

The governor also said that public gathering of all nature would be suspended from March 27 and called on community and traditional leaders to ensure compliance by their subjects.

He advised all religious leaders to ensure that gathering of faithful did not exceed 50 persons to prevent possible infection among worshipers.

The governor further ordered all civil servants on Grade Level 12 downwards, to stay at home and work.

According to him, the restriction does not affect security agencies, medical personnel, those supplying water, and other essential and utility services.

“The enforcement is very necessary because public compliance in the state is not encouraging in spite of government’s directive that people should maintain social distance to curtail the spread of the disease.

“Now, we have decided to use security agencies in the state to ensure people comply,” he said.

Also speaking at the conference, the Chairman of the state’s task force on the coronavirus, Prof. Idris Mohammed, urged the people to take the COVID-19 outbreak serious because the world had not experienced a pandemic of such nature in the last 100 years.

“The entire world is observing social distancing and other measures to protect themselves, we should also comply to avert devastating effects like other countries,” Mohammed said.