Ondo State Government has cancelled the Easter services in churches across the state tomorrow in its spirited effort to check the spread of the deadly Coronavirus in the state.
The cancellation is coming barely 24 hours after the state recorded its second case of COVID infection.
Earlier, following the pressures from the Christian community, government had given concession to Christians in the state to hold the Sunday Easter services though the lockdown as part of various measures to contain the spread of the virus in the state was in force.
The cancellation was announced in a statement on Saturday April 11 by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo, which expressed government deep sadness over the discovery of the second case.
It was entitled “COVID-19: Ondo Cancels Easter Services.”
It said: “The State Government notes with deep concern the second index case. This development has once again, reinforced the need to deepen our collective efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ondo State COVID-19 Response Team has reported that the second index case having travelled from Lagos to Ondo State must give the Government greater concern to avoid community transmission.
Against the backdrop of the above, the Ondo State Government has directed the cancellation of the special concession granted Churches across the State to celebrate the Easter Sunday/Service. This decision was taken after due consultations with the leadership of the Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN).
All measures and steps taken in respect of COVID-19 still remain in force. In particular, Government has taken further steps to effectively man the boundaries in the light of reported cases of compromise and breach of the directive to close all inter-state entry points into Ondo State.
The state,s Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, had on Friday April 10 announced the discovery of the second case of COVID-19 positive patient recorded in the state.
This was one week after the recorded its first case, an army officer who had returned from India on an official assignment.
He has since been isolated and receiving treatment while 11 persons are currently under watch.
Adegbenro, who confirmed the second case on Friday evening said the patient has been on admission since Thursday.
He said: “Yes I can confirm the person was discovered in Akure here. He has been on admission since yesterday (Thursday).
“The patient has been transferred to the state Infectious Disease Hospital, along Igbatoro road, Akure and he has been responding to treatment.
“I appeal to the people of the state to always adhere strictly to all the directives of the government on the preventive measures, which include regular handwashing, staying away from large gathering among others .
He added that the government was not relenting in its efforts to ensure the disease was contained in the state
