The rampaging coronavirus index case in Ondo State, identified as a military officer, has been discharged after testing negative twice.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, announced this at a media briefing, held at the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, on Monday, April 20, 2020.
He added that the second case has also tested negative in the first round of the test, while the state government awaits the second round of test on him for the final declaration.
A statement by his Special Assistant on New Media, Mr Olabode Richard Olatunde, said that Akeredolu also announced that he and his five other colleagues in the Southwest have adopted a joint protocol of controlling the spread of the pandemic.
According to him, the Southwest Governors have mandated the wearing of nose mask by everyone coming out of their homes, with effective from Friday 24th April, 2020.
He said: ”People involved in essential services or dealing in medicine, water and consumable items, in particular traders and market men and women should also wear nose masks while outside plying their trades.
“Let me make a few clarifications about this. It simply means, the six states are cooperating to make sure that inter-state trafficking of goods and human beings are halted in order to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
“In simple terms, individuals who violate or disobey the interstate travel ban by attempting to cross the border of one state to the other in the South-western part of Nigeria will be arrested and liable to be prosecuted.”
He said he has directed a massive production of face masks for the people of the state in order to ensure that the mandatory wearing of mask in the state is achieved fully.
He said a commitee has been put in place to ensure the production and distribution of nose masks to the public throughout the state, from urban centres to the rural settlements.
The Governor thanked all those who have donated to the state response fund to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.