By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
The Jigawa State Government has suspended all weekly markets in the state as part of measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
Dr Abba Zakari, the state commissioner for Health, made the announcement while briefing newsmen on COVID-19 .
According to him, the suspension is part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Zakari said that daily markets would, however, be allowed to operate, adding that the suspension was necessary since Jigawa shared boundaries with states with reported COVID-19 cases.
“As from today (Monday), March 30, all weekly market days are suspended in all the 27 LGAs of Jigawa.
“This is because if one infected person from neighboring states comes to any of the weekly markets, he can infect many people.
“And because people from the 27 LGAs patronise these markets, there is the possibility for them to contract the virus and take it to their respective villages.
“And it will be a problem to contain it when many people are infected, however, people within the vicinity of the markets can patronise them,” he said.
The commissioner said that a the task force constituted by the state government had met with the 27 local government chairmen and their secretaries, who were members of COVID-19 implementation committee in their respective councils.
He said that at the meeting, they were sensitised on their expected roles and responsibilities as members of the committee.
“Part of their roles and responsibilities are regulating the number of people during social gatherings like funeral prayers, naming and wedding ceremonies
“Also, they are to enforce and ensure total compliance with the border closure in their respective areas,” he said.
The commissioner said that the task force also met with all health workers in the state, where they discussed how to prevent spread of the virus.
He said some of the health workers who expressed concern over their safety were assured of maximum protection during this trying period.
Zakari said that the health workers had earlier been trained to manage COVID-19 victims should there be any reported case.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jigawa government had on March 27, closed its borders with Bauchi, Kano, Katsina and Yobe, as part of measures to curtail COVID-19 spread.
Credit: NAN