The Delta state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Tuesday relaxed the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus effective April 30.
Governor Okowa in a broadcast in Asaba said facemasks must be worn in public places, including offices, markets, malls, supermarkets, salons, hospitals and health clinics, churches, mosques, as well as all approved gatherings of persons.
He said conferences, sporting activities, gathering of people in convention/event centres, sports fields, public/open spaces, as well as recreational and cultural/communal activities remained banned until 31st May 2020.
Dr Okowa said he had every reason to believe that the lockdown had helped to limit the spread of the virus in the state.
According to him, “As we begin to ease the lockdown restrictions, the sensible approach is to do it in a gradual, systematic and orderly manner so that we do not wipe out the gains of the past four weeks. We are very mindful of the fact that each day of the lockdown was tough economically and particularly agonising for those in the informal sector who live on daily income.”
“As we gradually relax the restriction of movement, I must caution that it is not yet uhuru; life as we have known it, is still a long way off. We must therefore brace ourselves up to adjust to the new normal in all our personal, official and business dealings going forward.
“As an administration, we remain irrevocably committed to doing everything necessary to protect the lives and property of citizens in the state, in addition to providing a safe and secure environment for them to pursue their dreams of success and happiness.”
He said the state government had distributed food items to all 270 wards in the state, coordinated by a cross section of leaders at the local government area/ward levels.
