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Why evading interstate movement restriction is dangerous: Enugu government

By Lawrence Njoku ( Enugu)
24 May 2020   |   12:15 pm
Enugu State government  has said  that evading or assisting anyone to evade the inter-state movement restriction...

Enugu State government has said that evading or assisting anyone to evade the inter-state movement restriction, is unlawful and contributing to the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state.

It clarified that two more confirmed cases of the virus recorded in the state are persons who managed to sneak into the state despite the interstate movement restriction.

With the two confirmed positive cases confirmed on Sunday, the state now has 18, with 10 active cases and 8 discharged.

State Commissioner for health, Dr Ikechukwu Obi, while given  an update on the 2 more COVID-19 confirmed positive cases in the state announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said that they were indigenes of the state who sneaked in from Lagos despite the restriction in movement order.

He said: “The first new case (Case 17) is a 45-year-old male who hails from Igbo-Eze North council of the State and lives in Lagos State but still managed to make his way to Enugu State on the 21st of May, 2020 despite the inter-state movement restriction. 

“Concerned members of his community alerted the health authorities, since he too was already ill, leading to his assessment and testing. His result returned positive for COVID-19 on the 23rd of May 2020. 

“The second new case (Case 18) is the 62-year-old mother-in-law of Case 16, who has become a positive contact. Case 16 as earlier reported, evaded the inter-state boundary restriction, all the way from Lagos State and across several other states (obviously assisted by unscrupulous individuals), to bury her recently deceased husband in their community in Igbo-Etiti Council of Enugu State”.

Obi continued that “Evading or assisting anyone to evade the inter-state movement restriction, is unlawful, of no known benefit and has instead contributed to the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state. 

“Such actions are militating against the measures put in place by the Enugu State Government to prevent the spread of the virus and should be discouraged by all well-meaning inhabitants of the state.   

“It is in our best interest to continue to comply with the directives of the Federal and Enugu State governments and the public health advisory of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and the Enugu State Ministry of Health. 

“This is a time to encourage family members or friends, especially if ill, to remain where they are and seek health care. 

‘To discourage family and friends who want to move the body of a deceased loved one several miles away in these times, for interment”,.

He urged residents to continue to maintain highest hygiene practices and stay at home when they are sick.

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