Wike gives guidelines as he reopens markets, worship centres
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has announced the re-opening of all markets in the State with effect from Tuesday, August 18, 2020 from 7a.m and close at 6p.m daily.
Wike who announced this in a state-wide broadcast on Monday, August 17 said that Rumukwurushe (Oil Mill) and Oginiba Slaughter Markets still remain closed.
He stated that as the markets resume business, they must operate in strict compliance with the established protocols on wearing of face masks, washing of hands and maintaining social distancing.
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, the governor said government lifted the ban placed on markets to increase the tempo of economic activities in the State.
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“Market managers must provide for hand washing and use of sanitizers for everyone at the entrance of every market, ensure wearing of face mask and maintaining social distancing.
“Any market that opens to the public and fails to comply strictly with these protocols shall be closed down. The market managers shall be prosecuted while the contravening shops shall be forfeited to the State Government without notice.
“Similarly, Churches can now hold services with 50 percent of their hall capacity provided the leadership can enforce wearing of face masks and washing of hands at the entrance by worshippers.
“The ban on outdoor sports activities at the Port Harcourt Club, Golf Club and the Port Harcourt Polo Club is also lifted.
“Members of these clubs must also comply with the established COVID-19 protocols or risk another closure.
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“In addition, all night clubs, cinemas, bars and in-service restaurants remain banned until further notice. The established restrictions on public burials and weddings are also still in force.
“All Local Government Chairmen are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance with the protocols in their respective Local Government Areas.
“We also call on the security agencies to support the State Government to fight against the spread of this disease by enforcing the wearing of face mask in public places and maintenance of physical distancing throughout the state.
“Government has increased the State’s capacity for surveillance, contact tracing, testing and treatment of positive cases in line with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), oil and gas companies that provided PCR laboratories.
“We are also considering the request for approval and certification by some private laboratories to provide sample collection and testing services,” he said.
Governor Wike stated that with the available data on COVID-19 cases, the measures put in place by the State Government are impacting positively on the efforts to control the spread of the virus.
He stated that even though the State presently stands as the fifth most impacted State in the country, there has been a steady drop on the number of new positive cases within the last seven weeks.
While reacting to the dissolution of the Taskforce on Illegal Motor Parks and Street Trading, Daily Times reports that the Governor said the decision was taken because the members took the laws into their hands, urging motorists and traders not to go back to their old ways, the Governor announced that a disciplined Taskforce would soon be reconstituted.
