Coronavirus: Ogun compels residents to wear face mask as lockdown begins

Gov Dapo Abiodun addressing the press conference 

Ogun State government has compelled residents of the state  to wear face mask throughout the duration of the 'stay at home' order.

The state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, disclosed this on Friday, while addressing a press conference at his Iperu residence.

Abiodun said the wearing of face mask by residents has been made compulsory in order to contain the spread of coronavirus.

According to him, face mask will protect the person that wears it from contracting the virus from another person who has already been infected.

The governor said the lockdown of the state which began at 11pm on Friday night will be total for the first three days, as movements will be restricted, except for those who are on essential duties.

He said: "the first three days of the total lockdown will enable the government to decontaminate and disinfect the public places, including markets and motor parks".

Abiodun added that the state government will embark on distribution of relief materials to 500,000 households who are mostly poor and vulnerable, to cushion the effect of the lockdown.

He said the packaged relief materials will consist of 5kg each of beans, garri and rice, as well as vegetable oil, salt, tomato pastes.

The governor also explained that the total lockdown will be relaxed on Tuesday morning, from 7am to 2pm, and thereafter every 48 hours, to enable residents replenish their stock of food items.

He therefore appealed to the residents to cooperate with the government in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.

The governor also disclosed that the third index case of the coronavirus in the state, who has been treated and tested negative twice, will be discharged very soon.

Great Achiever Magazine reports that the 'stay at home' order was earlier scheduled to take off on Monday, but was postponed till Friday, to enable residents prepare for the lockdown.