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.

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As part of steps to ensure total compliance with its lockdown directive imposed to curb spread of COVID-19, the State Government of Osun has mounted barricades at all boundaries leading into the State and on major roads within the State. 

This follows the announcement that the 14-day lockdown in the State was not a curfew, but a total lockdown with no affordance of human and vehicular movements.

The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode during an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, said the barricades were erected to throttle back unauthorized movements across the State. She stated that the government was intensifying efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 in the State and avoid a resurgence of the disease. 

Egbemode said further: “the Government is determined to protect Osun and its citizens. Hence, this move by the Government is to keep defiant people from hurting themselves and endangering others.”

“The barricades will only be opened to essential duty vehicles, conveying materials needed for the fight against COVID-19. Non-essential travels and movements remain banned in the State of Osun till further notice”, she added.

Corroborating Egbemode, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Adeleke Yekini Adebayo, who doubles as a member of the State COVID-19 Task Force, noted that the government installed physical barricades at its boundaries to ensure safety of its citizens, stressing that the action was to prevent human and vehicular movements from neighboring states with increasing number of COVID-19 cases. He further said that the laws guiding the operation of the total lockdown and the general security of the people remain in force, adding that “relevant security agencies are on alert to ensure total compliance of the regulation and guarantee safety and security of the people.”

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The State Government of Osun hereby reiterates that the second stint of the State-wide 14-day lockdown necessitated by the need to curb the spread of the COVID-19 in the State of Osun, is not a curfew but a TOTAL LOCKDOWN.

This by implication means that the State Government has not relaxed the order to accommodate human or vehicular movements at certain hours of the day during the period of the lockdown. The State Government considers defiance of this directive as civil disobedience.

Please be informed that all borders remain closed and interstate travels banned till further notice. All gatherings of any nature or density are not allowed. All functions and ceremonies, including burials, are put on hold. All markets remain closed, but traders are allowed to display their wares in front of their houses.

The State of Osun is not totally in the clear yet, especially with more confirmed cases reported in adjoining States. Hence, the State Government’s directive that its people stay at home in their own interest is a protective measure.

The State Government sternly warns that the State Emergency Regulation 2020 is in full force, and its full weight will be brought against anyone who runs foul of it.

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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.

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The State Government of Osun says it has found the only person who reportedly absconded from the Isolation centre in Ejigbo earlier today. 

The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, who made this disclosure in a statement this afternoon, said the woman has been returned to the isolation centre. 

She said that the State government was still in the process of tracing individuals she might have come in contact with. The Commissioner also noted that security within and around the Isolation centre has been beefed up . Mrs. Egbemode assured that the government would continue to enhance measures to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the State.

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Our attention has been drawn to a story purporting that six persons were missing from our Isolation centre in Ejigbo. 

One of the writers quoted a non-existent statement from the government to lend some measure of credibility to the story. 

Nothing can be further from the truth. As a government, we have not issued any statement to confirm or deny such story. Besides, a quick check showed that the name and number of the first person on the list of the purported missing patients, is indeed currently in our facility in Ejigbo. 

Recall that  about a week ago,  we received 127 returnees from Ivory Coast and we have kept them since then to avoid community transfer of the virus. 

This morning we embarked on a headcount and found out that only one person could not be accounted for by officials stationed at the Isolation centre out of the 127 persons. 

The State Government is currently investigating the matter and will ensure that the missing person is brought back to the Isolation centre and we will also ensure we trace all his contacts.

We want to reiterate that any official(s) found culpable will also be dealt with accordingly.  

We implore members of the public to discountenance the alarm being raised. We will continue to do everything to protect the lives of our citizens in this fight against Coronavirus. 

Signed 

Mrs. Funke Egbemode  Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation.

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….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.

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The Osun State Police Command has arrested a middle-aged man in Osogbo for impersonating the State Government to swindle unsuspecting citizens of the state under the guise of providing social relief during the stay-at-home period. 

This follows a public service announcement from the State Government of Osun, warning its citizens to beware of criminally-minded people who are demanding for personal and security details in exchange for money and relief materials. 

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor of Osun on Security, Mrs Abiodun Ige, said the suspect collected the Voter’s Card of some people in Olorunda Local Government Area, with the assurance that they would receive the sum of N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira ) each through an unnamed  Non-Governmental Organisation.

Ige said that some of the people whose cards have been collected have already been contacted and intimated of the government’s position on the matter.  She added that the police have launched an investigation to track down the suspect’s accomplices.   Meanwhile, the State’s Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation has revved up its awareness drive that the State Government of Osun is not asking anyone for his/her personal security details in exchange for money during this stay-at-home period.

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The Honourable Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Hon. (Dr.) Olawale Babatunde Olumide in his effort towards Covid-19 sensitization has directed all Directors in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology to report at the State Emergency Call Center today 27^th of March 2020. This exercise was aimed at assisting the Call Agents in attending to numerous calls bombarding the center via 293.

It was recalled that Hon. (Dr.) Olawale Babatunde Olumide visited the call center earlier this week, and observed that the center has been a great instrument of awareness, as people call from different locations across the country to make enquiries on Covid-19 Pandemic, its symptoms and prevention via the State of Osun Emergency Toll-free line 293. As well as reporting suspected cases.

“As it has been known that the deadly Covid-19 Pandemic has no cure when it goes severe, the only way to help people to be safe is to get them informed,” He said.

One of the Call agent representative, beseech the government to help them in recruiting more staffs so as to enhance the operation. He also emphasized on the need to upgrade the center in other to improve the quality of service delivery and identify opportunities of revenue generation.  The Honourable Commissioner promised to forward their request to the state government, and also enjoined them to be proactive in their duties.

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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.

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