WITH COVID-19 spiking in some states of Nigeria, one of the states in the South-West has said schools will be opened in July.
Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi said in a broadcast on Tuesday that schools will be opened on July 20.
The governor said, “Efforts are now on top gear to ensure our children return to school from July 20, 2020 as recommended by the interface between the Ministry of Education and all stakeholders in the education sector.”
He disclosed that the schools would resume in phases with certificate classes.
The governor in the broadcast, said, “Our random community testing starting with Ikere Ekiti Council on July 1, 2020 and moving from council to council.
“The acquisition of a laboratory was for us, a game changer in our strategy to combat the spread of the virus as it would enable us to increase our testing capacity, especially to determine if we are already in the community spread stage of infection.
“Our laboratory has now been fully installed and functional and we have increased testing in our communities.
“As at today, we have conducted additional 417 new tests and recorded 23 positive cases; in all, since we started combating COVID-19, Ekiti State has tested 567 persons and recorded 43 cases.
“Currently, we have 13 active cases, two deaths, while 28 patients have been successfully treated and discharged.
“Though the 43 cases represent 6.7 percent of the total test conducted so far, it could be said to be relatively low; it gives me a great concern that we have recorded this much and that in the month of June, many of the positive cases appear to have contracted the disease through community spread, as they could not be traced to any known cases.
“So, while our general risk assessment in comparison to other states is quite commendable, the implication of community spread is very grave.
“At this stage, the ball is now in our court; we must take adequate care, take personal responsibility, and ensure we keep safe.
“Every one of us must do whatever is within our power to ensure we jointly fight this dangerous virus to the end.
“No one needs to be persuaded again that the virus is real and here; we have seen many prominent personalities who could afford any medical care that money could buy, succumb to the virus; that is why we cannot afford to be complacent or fatalistic about it.”
