Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has threatened to lock down the State once again, if the transmission of the Covid-19 disease continues to increase beyond tolerable limits.
Speaking during a state-wide broadcast in Port Harcourt, Monday, Wike expressed fears that the daily figures released from the NCDC showed that both the transmission and death rates in the last two weeks have consistently been on a spiral rise.
This, according to him, was because residents and visitors to the State have largely abandoned their responsibility to comply with the existing Covid-19 protocols.
“Clearly, we are headed for a serious health disaster of profound consequences if residents and visitors continue to behave as if the pandemic no longer exists or impotent in Rivers State.
“This is a big lie and we cannot afford to continue to close our eyes to the dangers such irresponsible behavior poses to the health, lives and livelihood of everyone”, the governor stated.
Governor Wike reminded residents that the subsisting protocols of regular washing of hands and use of alcohol-based sanitizer as well as maintaining social distancing, wearing of face masks at all public places including transport vehicles and going for immediate testing and treatment whenever they notice any of the symptoms, should not be discountenanced.
“Furthermore, it has been proven that vaccinations are saving lives here and across the world and those refusing to take the vaccines for no certified medical reasons should know that they are endangering the rest of the citizens”, he said while appealing on residents to help protect themselves and loved ones by getting their jab at the designated health centers in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
He also appealed to religious leaders and churches to convince and encourage their followers and members to please go out and take the vaccines and comply with the covid-19 protocols in addition, adding that government’s desire remains to keep the State open and allow citizens to go about their social, religious and economic activities unimpeded.
