By Mayowa Olumuyiwa
A clergyman, who recently returned from Lagos State, has died of coronavirus in Ondo State.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu disclosed this at a weekly press briefing on Monday at the government house in Akure, the state capital.
According to the governor, the Christian preacher, 59, a resident of Ondo, Ondo West Local Government Area, passed at the state’s Infectious Diseases Hospital in Akure.
“He had travelling history to Lagos where he recorded some difficulty in breathing. He returned to Akure and died while receiving medical treatment at the state Infectious Diseases Hospital in Akure,” Akeredolu revealed.
The demise of the preacher thus takes the number of fatalities in the state to seven.
While dwelling on the need for all and sundry to be wary of recent developments, Akeredolu noted that the reality of having to encounter community transmission of the deadly virus is now more real than ever.
The governor went a step further to ban football viewing centres in the state.
“To this end, the following steps have been approved as our invigorated approach to the spread of the pandemic,” he said.
“All residents are encouraged to practise, more than before, social and physical distancing, use of facemasks, handwashing and travel restriction.
“All Premiership football viewing centres are hereby banned from operations until further notice.
“All religious organisations are to further ensure stringent implementation of the agreed guidelines for worship.
“All our earlier regulations about operations of the main and community markets will be revisited in which case law enforcement agencies and the Governor’s Task Force will ensure full enforcement.
“All members of the public who had patronised the fairly used fabric and shoes stalls at Oja Oba market in Akure, where our 43rd case was picked up, are advised in their own interest and for the good of our society, to present themselves to our health facilities for immediate testing and proper care, before it is too late.
“I urge you to call on our toll-free numbers so you can get immediate help. There is no shame in illness and there can be no reproach in seeking and getting healing”.
While reiterating his government’s effort at increasing the proactive measures geared towards curtailing the sporadic spread, he further said, “Meanwhile, we are also expending more energy and resources in building capacity for our Infectious Disease Hospitals to cope with the challenges.
“I am happy to inform you that apart from the sustained purchases of equipment and other medical consumables by government, well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies have also scaled up their interventions to boost our capacities.
“Just last week, the state government took delivery of equipment and consumables from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).”
Reflecting on the progress recorded so far on reports of compliance with laid down guidelines by religious institutions since the state relaxed the ban placed on religious worship, he closed by saying, “Finally, I wish to thank all our religious leaders for their courage and noble efforts at enforcing the precautionary measures agreed upon before reopening the worship activities.
“I encourage all of us to be strong in faith and action. Let us change our attitude to this deadly disease. We need to pull together and control our environment against COVID-19.
“In other words, if you ask me, “Can we win the war?” My answer to you is yes. “Do we have what it takes to win?” I believe we do. Will we win? Yes, we will win”.
Ondo has so far recorded 43 confirmed cases and 22 recoveries.
