The ancient town of Ilesa and its environs were on Tuesday deserted as the 7-day lockdown order imposed on the four local government areas of Ijesaland by the state government commenced.

The enforcement team of the lockdown has described the observance of the lockdown as “impressive”.

The state government had last Saturday ordered  a total lockdown of Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa East and Atakunmosa West as part of efforts to contain the community transmission of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic within the axis. 

The affected four councils are parts of the six local government areas that make up Ijesa-South and Ijesa-North Federal Constituencies of Osun East Senatorial District.

The State’s enforcement team on COVID-19, on Tuesday morning stormed the affected local government areas to enforce the lockdown measures ordered by the government.

The team, led by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Adebayo Adeleke, said members of the team were on ground to enforce the government’s directives and assess the level of compliance.

The enforcement team in company with officers of Osun Joint Task Force and Osun Joint Security Network comprises the Police, Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, Department of State Services, Nigerian Army and Volunteers of Amotekun Corps, took to the major streets and communities in the affected areas to tighten-up the road blocks and barricades mounted in the major entries and strategic places as part of efforts to prevent vehicular and needless movement of residents.

Speaking on the level of compliance, the leader of the enforcement team, said it was encouraging and impressive. 

“The lockdown is expected to last seven days. This is the first day. This is impressive. We are happy with what we have seen so far, I hope and pray this level of compliance is maintained. But if it is not, like the governor warned, it will be extended,” Adeleke said. 

It will be recalled that the government had in a statement lamented the surge in the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases  in the State in the last one month and said there was need to take measures to arrest the trend. 

Osun has recorded a total of 178 confirmed cases  so far, out of which it had successfully treated and discharged 84 patients. The State currently has a total of 87 active cases and it has recorded seven deaths since the outbreak of the virus. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, who also spoke during the week, noted that medical analysis revealed that many of the recent cases of COVID-19 recorded in the State were from Ilesa axis and its environs, hence the need for government to impose a total lockdown to curb community transmission of the pandemic.

The Government of the State of Osun on Monday confirmed the discharge of 21 patients from its Treatment and Isolation Centres.

This is just as it confirmed the discovery of 13 new cases in the State. 

The State’s Commissioner for Health,  Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, disclosed these in a statement Monday evening in Osogbo.

He disclosed that all the 13 new cases were mostly contacts of previous cases in the State.

He appealed to citizens and residents of the State to always observe all the precautionary measures laid down by the State against the spread of the virus.

The Health Commissioner also revealed that with the latest development, the number of confirmed cases in the State has risen to 178 with  87 active cases. “With the latest development, the number of active cases as at today, Monday, July 6, is 87. We have 178 confirmed cases, out of which the State has successfully treated and discharged 84 patients while seven deaths have been recorded,” Dr. Isamotu added.

The Government of the State of Osun on Saturday confirmed the discovery of 14 new cases in the State. 

The State’s Commissioner for Health,  Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, made this known through a press statement in Osogbo on Saturday.

He disclosed that four patients were also discharged from its Treatment and Isolation Centre same day after testing negative for the virus, while two deaths were recorded.

The Commissioner noted that the new cases were discovered following contact tracing of previous cases in the State. 

He appealed to citizens and residents of the State to always observe all the precautionary measures laid down by the State against the spread of the virus.

The Health Commissioner also revealed that with the latest development, the number of confirmed cases in the State has risen to 165 with  95 active cases. “With the latest development, the number of our active cases as at today, Saturday , July 4  is 95. We have 165 confirmed cases, out of which the State has successfully treated and discharged 63 patients while seven deaths have been recorded,” Dr. Isamotu added.

The State of Osun  Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu  has disclosed that the state was now awaiting the results of 30 samples from the contact tracing it embarked on at the weekend  through Monday. 

The samples  were sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC accredited Testing Centre, the African Centre of Excellence in Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Ede, Osun. 

Isamotu, while disclosing these in a statement on Tuesday, said contact tracing was carried out in Ejigbo, Osu, Ife East, Ilesa and Ede areas of the State. 

Giving reason for the contact tracing in those areas, Isamotu explained that the wife of a confirmed case in Ife was said to have travelled to Osu after leaving Ife, before returning to Ilesa. 

He said all 24 contacts of the cases were located by the State COVID-19 Taskforce Committee and their samples taken for evaluation. 

“Apart from the 24 samples, residents also called the team for suspected cases and in the process those samples were collected. So, the total samples collected to which we are awaiting result is 30,” he said. 

According to the Commissioner, 14 suspected cases that were subjected to test on Sunday all returned negative on Monday night. 

Isamotu also revealed that the three State health workers who initially tested positive for Coronavirus, have now tested negative once, adding that they will be subjected to another round of test, in line with NCDC protocol. “Also, our three health workers who initially tested positive, have now tested negative once. But in line with NCDC protocol, they have to test negative twice before they can be affirmed ready to join the society and resume their normal lives. So their samples will be taken again for another test after 48 hours,” the Commissioner added.

The State Government of Osun says it has conducted fresh 167 Coronavirus tests, out of which 12 returned positive. 

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, revealed that the 12 new cases were recorded in Osogbo, Ife, Ede, Ikire and Ejigbo. 

Isamotu said the fresh tests were carried out in the last two weeks of the lockdown, adding that the lockdown has proven effective in containing spread of the virus. 

He said this brings the number of active COVID-19 cases in Osun to 13.

The Commissioner urged residents of the State not to panic but should continue to comply with the stay-at-home directive of the State government, keep social distancing and observe all precautionary measures to curb the spread of the disease. He also reiterated that the ban on public gatherings remains in force, just as he urged residents to take the wearing of face mask seriously as it is now compulsory across the state.

The State Government of Osun has restated its warning that private hospitals in the State are not allowed to admit and treat suspected or confirmed Coronavirus patients. 

The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode who gave the warning via a public announcement on Thursday, stated that non-adherence to the directive would attract prosecution by the State Government.

Egbemode disclosed the State government has accredited health facilities with required personnel to treat suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients in the State. 

“The State Government of Osun has reiterated that private hospitals across the State are NOT ALLOWED to treat COVID-19 patients, whether suspected or confirmed. 

“The State has recognised, accredited and adequate Government facilities with the required personnel to take care of patients, whether suspected or confirmed, at its Isolation and Care Centres. Testing and treatment are free in all government facilities,” she said.  The Commissioner noted that attempt to treat COVID-19 patients in private facilities would only open the State to community infections and negate all the sacrifices people of Osun had made so far.

….says patients among 127 Ivory Coast returnees, solicits FG’s support

The State of Osun has recorded 9 new cases of Coronavirus, which raised the total number of confirmed cases in the State to 14. 

Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ismail Omipidan disclosed that the new cases are among returnees from Ivory Coast, who came into the State last week.

According to them, the returnees are from Osun, Anambra, Kwara, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo and other States but whose destination was Osun. They were 127 and were conveyed to the State in 6 buses from Ogun-Osun border and taken directly to an isolation centre in Ejigbo to prevent communal mixing.

The duo made it clear that 24 samples were initially sent for test and 3 returned positive before the second batch of 47 samples were sent for test with 9 returning positive. They added that the rest are undergoing test.

Dr Isamotu and Mr Omipidan, however, assured the people of the State that the Government was on top of the situation as all necessary cautions had been taken to prevent spread of the disease.

They sought further cooperation of the people in staying at home to nip the mobility of the virus in the bud as it becomes ineffective when all movements stop. Omipidan disclosed that the state at present, has three isolation centres, with two in Osogbo and the other in Ile-Ife. He however, solicited the support of the Federal government for the State in its fight against the virus.

The government of the State of Osun, on Thursday announced the closure of major markets with effect from Friday, March 27, while also limiting the boarding capacity of vehicles operating within the State as part of the ongoing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the State.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, the government announced that all markets in the State, including Orisumbare, Ajegunle spare part market and Ayegbaju market will be shut with effect from tomorrow, Friday.

The statement further announced that all shopping malls will also be shut, except for their pharmaceutical, foods and medical needs outlets.

Speaking on transportation within the State, the SSG said: “all motorcycles henceforth will carry only one passenger, while all mini buses will carry only four passengers with one passenger in front, one in the middle and two at the back seat”.

The statement also announced the closure of the land borders into the State with effect from Saturday, 28th March. In another development, the government advised all returnees from the United Kingdom, the United States of America and other countries marked as high risk countries, who returned to the State of Osun in the last two weeks, to call the State’s emergency number – 293 – for instructions on how to stay safe.

…..reiterates readiness to curtail the menace

The Osun State Government says the first and only confirmed case of Coronavirus in the State is in stable condition and responding positively to treatment. 
The government said the State medical personnel have been handling and managing the case professionally and that no severe symptoms had been traced to the patient. 
Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi, disclosed this on Thursday shortly after the meeting of the State Government Technical Committee on COVID-19, at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
He noted that the patient has been helping in easing the job of the medical personnel as he personally surrendered himself for treatment even before his health status was confirmed.
Alabi who commended the patient for the high level of understanding and cooperation he has exhibited, said his action had assisted the state to implement its guiding principles against the deadly disease.
The deputy governor said the government had gathered useful information that would assist in contract tracing of persons that might have come in contact with the confirmed case. 
According to him, the state government had stepped up its guiding principles and control measures to curb the spread of the disease. He added that health workers have been put on their toes for optimum performance at the present critical moment. 
Alabi furrher said the government had equipped and strengthened the capacity of the Isolation Centre at the State Specialist Hospital, to handle suspected or confirmed cases. 
“Yesterday Mr Governor announced the confirmation of an index case of the Coronavirus and to this end, we have begun to be more proactive in combating the menace.
“We are working round the clock to strengthen our protocol and ensure that our guiding principles are tailored towards achieving the set objectives.
“On the confirmed case, no doubt the patient is responding to treatment and he is in stable condition. We have done the needful. He has been isolated to a place where adequate treatment will be given to avoid the escalation of the disease”, the Deputy Governor stressed.
In his reaction, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, said the medical personnel had been tasked to double their efforts in curtailing the spread of the pandemic in Osun. 

Isamotu added that the specialist hospital had been restructured for emergency cases, while cold cases would be treated in some of the other health facilities across the state.
“The State Isolation Center is absolutely secured. Presently, we are not attending to cold cases but emergencies as a sign of seriousness that we attached to the pandemic. We have equally warned the people who do not have anything to do to stay off the hospital. 
“And as part of our commitment to contain this disease, the state government has set up taskforce to man all the state land borders and conduct preliminary screening.
“We have also begun massive sensitisation exercise against the pandemic across the nooks and crannies of the state while the residents had equally been earned to refrain from embracing and hugging one another,” Isamotu added.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved the production of Chloroquine for clinical trial in the search for a cure for COVID-19.

The Director-General of the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, made the announcement on Friday at the NAFDAC Headquarters in Lagos, according to a report monitored on Channels Television.

Adeyeye pointed out that NAFDAC is not approving Chloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 but for clinical trials to find treatment for the virus.

Channels TV, quoting Adeyeye, reported that “NAFDAC is not approving Chloroquine as a product that can be used for Coronavirus because there is no submission to is for registration but because it is under clinical trials, NAFDAC APPROVES medicines meant for clinical trials”.

Adeyeye called on experts and researchers that are interested in doing a clinical trial on Chloroquine to approach approved outlets.