The Imo State House of Assembly has been shut down for two weeks following a lawmaker in the state who tested positive for Coronavirus.
The Chairman of the State Task Force on COVID-19, Prof. Maurice Iwu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Owerri on Tuesday.
Iwu said the assembly had been shut down because of the development to enable the team fumigate the whole assembly.
He said that samples of the other 26 legislators and their aides have been taken for testing.
The task-force chairman also announced the death of a woman, who died of the virus shortly after being delivered of a set of twins at a hospital in Owerri.
“Currently, we registered one death of a lady who successfully delivered a set of twins.
“Also, we have a positive case from the state assembly as such have to collect samples from all house members and their aides.
“Also, the House of Assembly is to be shut down for two weeks to fumigate the place following a laid down strategic plan,” he said.
Iwu further explained that the team had embarked on enhanced screening of people to know if they had Severe Acute Respiratory Symptom (SARS).
“A total of 760 samples have so far been tested in the state with 135 coming out positive. We have 92 active cases while 43 persons have been discharged,” he said.
The death of the woman brought to two the number of deaths arising from COVID-19 in the state.
“COVID-19 is not only a public health crisis but more of a social disharmony hence the need for social harmony through social distancing,” Iwu said.
He added that there were four persons currently at the Federal Medical Centre isolation centre, four at WODDI centre and some others at other isolation centers.
Iwu disclosed that the House of Assembly member was isolated with the wife.
The chairman urged Imo people to continue to observe the existing protocols of wearing mask, washing of hands with water, applying alcohol based sanitizer as well as physical distancing.
Meanwhile, in continuation of their efforts to ease the sufferings people are passing through at this COVID-19 lockdown, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and a non-profit organization chaired by former Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Theophilous Danjuma (rtd), had donated food items to 600 widows in Enugu East senatorial zone, comprising of Isiuzo, Enugu East, Enugu North, Nkanu East, Nkanu West and Enugu South Local government areas of the state.
Presenting the items to the beneficiaries (100 widows) in Isiuzo local government area, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State and chairman of the Enugu State Emergency Palliative Committee, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, told the women that the items were donated by General T Y. Danjuma- chaired Victims Support Fund, VSF and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Representative of the Deputy Governor, Sam Ngene, said that the items donated included bags of beans, bags of rice, condiments, groundnut oil, bags of garri and pieces of fabric facemasks supported by Ugwuanyi.
“The VSF’s donation was Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi supported and said 100 widows be given the palliative in each local government. The Governor felt the pulse of the people, the sufferings they were passing through at this COVID, -19 lockdown. that’s why we brought these to you”.
The Deputy Governor’s representative who is also member representing Enugu South State constituency, told them that COVID-19 is real, advising that they should wear their facemasks, wash their hands regularly, observe social distancing and other safety measures. He prayed God to bring the end of the COVID-19.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of Isiuzo local government area, Jacob Abonyi, said that “This is about the third time we are doing this. About 300 widows had benefitted and we are trying to see that the donation of the palliative reaches the poorest of the poor”.
He urged the women to always wear their facemasks in public and wash, sun dry it . They prayed that COVID-19 pandemic should come to an end
A beneficiary, Mrs Patience Edeh thanked governor Ugwuanyi for the gifts.
In Enugu East local government area, leader of the delegation, Ngene told the beneficiaries that the governor felt concerned over the plight of the people, the problems they were passing through especially at this period of COVID-19 lockdown.
He told the women that their team is Enugu State Emergency Palliative Committee and that the chairman of the committee is the Deputy Governor, Hon (Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo.
In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of Enugu East Local government area, Prince Alex Ugwu, thanked governor Ugwuanyi and the Victim Support Fund for the palliative.
He assured that the items will be shared to the beneficiaries judiciously. He prayed God for safety of the donors and the people as well.
In Enugu North local government area, the items were distributed to 100 widows. Chairman of the local government, Hon. Emeka Onunze thanked Ugwuanyi and the Victim Support Fund for the donation. “The Governor has human face. Government house is like “Obiagu ” (an area in Enugu) Common people come there. He runs an open door policy. He cares for the poor and the needy”, he said.
In Nkanu East local government headquarters, Amagunze, the palliative were shared to 100 widows by the members of the Enugu State Emergency Palliative Committee and some executive members of the local government.
The leader of the delegation, Ngene told the women that Ugwuanyi sent them through the Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo and told to distribute the palliative to them. He said that the items were donated by VSF and Enugu State government for 100 widows in each of the 17 local government of the State.
Commissioner for Gender and Social development,
Mrs Peace Nnaji urged the women to always wash their hands, observe the social distancing and other COVID-19 protocols.
Member of the Committee and special adviser to the governor on Agriculture, Hon. Mike Ogbuekwe, in a remark, expressed happiness at the gesture.
He told the women that COVID-19 is a novel disease. He urged them to always observe safety measures of hand washing, applying of hand sanitizer, wearing of facemasks and social distancing.
In a remark, Secretary of the local government, Hon. Cajetan Anichukwu, thanked Ugwuanyi and Lt. General. T. Y. Danjuma chaired Victim Support Fund, for their donations and prayed God to bless them.
One of the recipients, Mrs Ani Ijeoma, from Amankanu ward, thanked the donors for remembering them. She prayed God to bless them, grant their heart desires “which are not evil”.
In Nkanu West local government area, leader of the delegation presented the items to the beneficiaries.
Chairman of Nkanu west local government , Sir Nwabueze Nnamani thanked governor Ugwuanyi and the VSF group for their donations.
President of widows association, Enugu, Mrs Lydia Nnaoma, also thanked the donors and prayed God to bless them.
In Enugu South local government area, the palliative committee presented the food items to 100 widows. They urged them to always wear their face masks, wash their hands, observe social and physical distancing .
The local government chairman, Hon. Monday Eneh, thanked Ugwuanyi and the Victim Support Fund group for their donation.
He said that the governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been reaching out to the widows and the vulnerable in the state. He prayed that COVID-19 should go, urging the women to always obey the COVID-19 safety measures.
The beneficiaries thanked Ugwuanyi and the VSF team for their kind gesture. They prayed God to bless them and bring the spread of the COVID-19 to an end.
In company of the Deputy Governor’s representative, Hon Sam Ngene, were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Hon. Mike Ogbuekwe, the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Hon Princess Peace Nnaji among others. Six hundred widows in Enugu East senatorial zone benefitted from the palliative.
