Gov Dapo Abiodun
The governor disclosed this on Friday, while briefing journalists on the activities of the state government to curb further spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
He said: "As your government, we will continue to be guided by science and analyses of all available data and feedback from the field to review the measures in place.
"As this pandemic is an unprecedented global pandemic, we also monitor and learn from the experiences in other climes, particularly experiences related to phasing the ease of lockdown.
"I have to state that after all considerations, we are constrained to take the painful but necessary decision to continue the eased lockdown of Ogun State for another one week till Sunday, 31st, May, 2020.
"As we have always maintained the delicate balance between lives and livelihood, we will continue to have our window of relaxation, from 7am to 5pm on Monday, 25th May, 2020; Wednesday, 27th May, 2020 and Friday, 29th May, 2020.
"We must also bear in mind that the daily curfew from 8pm to 6am and the ban on non-essential inter-state travel as directed by Mr. President still stands".
The governor said the last one week recorded the highest number of confirmed new cases of COVID-19 in the state since the index case in February, 2020, as 25 new cases were recorded on a single day, Tuesday, 19th May, 2020.
The total new cases in the last one week, according to the governor is 49, thus bringing the cumulative total of confirmed cases to 183.
Abiodun, however, was delighted that a new batch of 36 cases who have been successfully cared for at the state Treatment Centers have been given a clean bill of health to rejoin their families, thus bringing the total number of those discharged to 97, while cumulative number of discharged patients to date, which is 97 or 53% of total positive cases is an improvement over the comparative figure of 59 or 44% of the previous week.
The governor thanked God that the state did not record any new mortality from the virus in the last one week, though regrettably a total number of 6 mortalities were recorded, thus leaving the state with 80 active cases who are currently receiving care and treatment at the state Treatment centers.
He, however, decried the sudden rise in the number of new cases and community transmission which is also on the increase in the state.
Governor Abiodun confirmed that government is modifying its protocol in line with NCDC guidelines and will be accrediting some private health facilities in the management of COVID-19, in addition to some designated Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs).
He said: "In this regard, we have embarked on the renovation and upgrade of the selected PHCs and have trained over 200 personnel drawn from the healthcare workers in our PHCs, Private Health Facilities, Community Development Associations and Community leaders.
"These participants will, in the coming weeks, cascade the training to over 2,500 other participants.
"We will provide support to the facilities by equipping them with COVID-19 Case Management skills. They will be the first responders in their localities, and will be able to manage the asymptomatic positive cases, those with mild symptoms and positive individuals who may prefer care and treatment at the local PHC or accredited private health facility.
"These health facilities will be pre-positioned with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The engagement of the CDAs and community leaders is to ensure the ownership and buy-in of the various measures to curtail the spread of the virus in the community, and help emphasise that compliance should be seen as a moral responsibility and civic duty.
"It is also hoped that through the buy-in of the community leaders, reports of the compliance with laid-down measures and suspected symptoms will be appropriately forwarded".
Abiodun disclosed that government has adopted the “See and Treat” protocol which commences the immediate treatment of anybody who presents with symptoms, even as the sample is taken for testing and result awaited.
He said: "As you are aware, there is no cure yet for the virus, only the symptoms are managed. The “See and Treat” protocol is practical and prevents the symptoms from worsening.
"We encourage our people to boost their immune system by ensuring regular intake of foods and vegetables that are rich sources of natural minerals such as Vitamin C, Garlic, and Ginger. Though these are not cures for the virus, but are known to be helpful in boosting the immune system".
The governor assured that the current phase of the eased lockdown will terminate on 31st May, while the second phase, which will commence from the 1st of June, will be accompanied with a further ease of the lockdown and expansion of the windows of relaxation.
He said the guidelines and details will be provided in due course, but in the meantime, another round of the distribution of the palliative to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 measures will commence over the weekend.
He declared: "I am not unaware of the great discomfort, inconveniences and even deprivations the lockdown, even with the ease and windows of relaxation, have foisted on us all.
"But the measures to combat COVID- 19, as unpleasant as they are, are the price we all need to pay to stay alive, beyond this period. These trials shall pass.
"The unpleasant truth is that only those who are alive can pursue their dreams or economic activities. Therefore, I wish to enjoin all citizens and residents of Ogun State to observe all the announced measures so that together we can prevent the continued transmission of COVID-19 and flatten the curve in Ogun State, and by extension, the whole country", the governor said.
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