El-Rufai extends Kaduna lockdown by 30 days

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, has extended the lockdown in the state by 30 days.

The state government had introduced lockdown on March 26 as part of measures to check the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement, Muyiwa Adekeye, special adviser to the governor, said the extension of lockdown is part of the recommendations of a committee chaired by Hadiza Balarabe, the deputy governor.

Adekeye said quarantine orders such as the ban on social and religious gatherings and stay-at-home remain in force, adding that the restriction of movement would only be relaxed on Wednesdays.

“Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has extended the quarantine orders being enforced in the state for another 30 days,” he said.

“With COVID-19 cases rising rapidly in neighbouring states and the FCT, and with strong evidence of interstate travel being a major means of spreading the virus, the Standing Committee’s evaluation is that measures to protect Kaduna State residents require further strengthening and more vigorous enforcement.”

The media aide said anyone who comes out to the public for whatever reason must don a face mask, adding that anyone who breaches the quarantine measures would be prosecuted.

“Wearing of face masks will be robustly enforced as a critical public health measure to reduce person-person transmission,” Adekeye said.

“Entry into or passage through Kaduna State is prohibited whilst the Quarantine Orders remain in force. Persons seeking to come into the state will be denied entry.

“Such persons will be given the option of returning to their take-off points or entering isolation for 14 days in locations and conditions that are so austere that nobody can mistake them for holiday resorts.

“Mobile courts have been empowered by the Quarantine Orders to try violators and impose the prescribed penalties, including fines, imprisonment and forfeiture of vehicles, upon conviction.

“Conscious of the need to keep vital industries and businesses in the farming, food and pharmaceutical value chains operational, trailers and trucks conveying food, seeds, fertilizer and medical products are exempted from the restriction of movement.

“Such vehicles must, however, not carry more than three persons, including the driver. Otherwise they will be deemed to be engaging in illegal transport of persons which isa breach of quarantine orders.”

So far, Kaduna has recorded 10 cases of the disease.