COVID-19 Lockdown: Osun enforcement team arrests violators, counsels them in Ilesa

The enforcement team of the Osun COVID-19 Task Force on Thursday arrested some of the violators of the ongoing lockdown order of the state government in Ijesaland.

This was coming as the 7-day lockdown in Ijesaland entered day three.

The violators and other non-adherents to the NCDC’s protocols were apprehended for flouting government’s directives to forestall community transmission of the dreaded Coronavirus.

The state government had last weekend announced the total lockdown in four local government areas of Ijesaland as part of its swift response to combat the pandemic.

The decision to lockdown some parts of the state, according to the government, was arrived at due to increase in the number of confirmed cases of the pandemic in the state.

The state’s medical team managing the pandemic had earlier in its reports revealed that many of the people that had contracted the virus were residents of Ijesaland; hence the need for government to step up its preventive measures.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mrs. Abiodun Ige, who led the enforcement team, said the decision to arrest some of the violators was to ensure total compliance to government’s order.

She noted that those that were temporarily arrested would serve as a deterrent to others who might be nursing such an act of insolence toward the lockdown.

While counseling the lockdown defaulters at Ereja square, Ige said the government embarked on the lockdown as the best option to forestall the further spread of the virus in the state and the areas in particular.

Some of the violators who were largely residents of Ilesa West and Ilesa East, were apprehended by the law enforcement agents stationed at different locations in the four Councils.

The violators were counselled on the necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus and were later released.

Speaking on the level of compliance so far, Ige said it is worthy of note that people have begun to see the need for them to stay safe and stay alive. She appealed to the residents of the affected areas to bear with the development as government cannot afford to expose its citizens to avoidable dangers.

The Government of the State of Osun on Wednesday confirmed the discovery of 11 new cases.

Similarly, it announced the discharge of four patients from its Treatment and Isolation Centre same day.

The Commissioner for Health,  Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, made the disclosure in a statement Wednesday  evening in Osogbo.

He disclosed that all the 11 new cases were contacts of those who had previously contracted  the virus in the State.

Dr. Isamotu appealed to citizens and residents of the State to always observe all the precautionary measures laid down by the State to contain the spread of the virus. He also revealed that with the latest development, the number of confirmed cases in the State has risen to 210 with 115 active cases, adding that the State has successfully treated and discharged 88 patients while seven deaths have so far been recorded.

The Government of the State of Osun on Tuesday confirmed the discovery of 21 new cases.

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

He disclosed that all the new cases were contacts of those who had previously contracted  the virus in the State.

The Commissioner 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. He also revealed that with the latest development, the number of confirmed cases in the State has risen to 199 with  108 active cases, adding that the State has successfully treated and discharged 84 patients while seven deaths have so far been recorded.

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.