Coronavirus: Ganduje relaxes lockdown in Kano

 

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has announced the relaxation of the 14-day lockdown imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari in Kano state.

The Nation reports that the Kano state governor announced a 12- hour free period per week during the lockdown which was imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

It was gathered that Governor Ganduje said all the major markets will remain closed except some selected supermarkets.

He further explained that only Yankaba Market where perishable items are sold, and Yan Lemo Market, where fruits are sold, would be allowed to operate for 12 hours on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm.

The governor, however, warned that those who go to the markets must strictly observe the COVID-19 protocols, emphasising that the use of face-mask will be absolutely necessary in the markets.

He also warned traders to desist from hiking the prices of their commodities because of COVID-19. According to him, his administration has drafted anti-corruption agencies to monitor, arrest and prosecute traders who hike their prices.

Ganduje also noted that the increase in the COVID-19 cases in the state demands that every resident must take the preventive measures seriously.

He added that with the help of President Buhari and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the AKTH test centre has become operational.

He nonetheless noted that test samples are still being taken to Abuja due to the low capacity of the test centre.

Governor Ganduje added that Nigeria’s foremost businessman and billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has promised to bring a mobile test centre which has the capacity of testing 400 people per day to the state.

He said the mobile testing will increase to testing up to 1000 people per day.

Ganduje also hinted that the Bayero University Kano (BUK) Test Centre will soon be operational. He also mentioned that the state has increased the number of isolation centres to accommodate more patients.