17th April, 2020
Abia government on Friday announced an indefinite extension of the ongoing lockdown in the state.
The lockdown will commence from April 20 as part of an effort to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak in Abia.
This was contained in a statement signed by Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, the Commissioner for Information.
Okiyi-Kalu said the Abia government had directed that the initial lockdown directive would be relaxed on April 18 and 19 to enable residents to restock on their food and essential supplies.
He said that the decision to extend the lockdown was informed by “the advice of medical experts and a painstaking review of the coronavirus situation with the state COVID-19 Inter-Ministerial Committee
“And in our continued determination to protect the people of the state from the pandemic while also ensuring that the effect of preventive measures on our people is alleviated,” he said.
Okiyi-Kalu said that residents were expected to use face masks as it had become compulsory for residents to wear face masks before leaving their homes.
He said that the directive for the closure of the state’s borders was still in place, as further directives had been given to relevant agencies to ensure that the state’s borders remained secure.
According to him, the state government was working assiduously to protect the people of Abia from the pandemic and prevent a coronavirus outbreak in the state.
Okiyi-Kalu commended the people for their support and cooperation and appealed to them for a continued understanding of the new directive.