COVID-19: Wike threatens fresh lockdown in Rivers

By Ebi Perekeme

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said the government may be constrained to re-impose lockdown if residents fail to adhere to the existing COVID-19 protocols.

The governor, in a broadcast on Monday, said daily figures released from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) show that both the transmission and death rates in the last two weeks have consistently been on the rise.

He said this because residents and visitors have failed to comply with the existing COVID-19 Protocols.

He stated that although it remains the desire of the government to keep the state open and allow citizens to go about their social, religious and economic activities unimpeded, the government might be compelled to take drastic measures.

“We may be constrained to re-imposed the suspended COVID-19 lockdown measures across the State if the transmission of the disease continues to increase beyond tolerable limits,” he said.

He said the state might face a serious health disaster of profound consequences if residents and visitors continue to behave as if the pandemic no longer exists or is impotent in Rivers.

“This is a big lie and we cannot afford to continue to close our eyes to the dangers such irresponsible behaviour poses to the health, lives and livelihood of everyone.”