The Delta state Government says it will not reopen schools until it was sure that all safety measures are in place to check spread of Cononavirus (COVID-19) in all schools across the state.
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stated this while briefing journalists on decision by government to relax some of the rules to enable businesses run and to save the state economy from total collapse due to COVID-19 lockdown.
The commissioner noted that the safety of the pupils and students were most important to the government rather than rush to reopen schools.
According to him, the state government is not in a hurry to reopen schools as it is more interested in the health and well-being of the pupil and students.
“We are interested in reopening our schools but will first ensure that all the facilities necessary to guarantee their safety are put in place.”
Aniagwu said that the state as at Thursday has recorded 1780 confirmed cases with over 1600 persons discharged cases, 180 active cases and 48 casualties.
The commissioner announced that the state government has further relaxed the lockdown rules as movie and cinema owners could operate at 50 per cent capacity while observing all COVID-19 protocols.
He said that hotels and eateries could now operate and allow people to eat within while encouraging takeaways, adding that buffets were not allowed.
READ ALSO: CJN To Election Tribunal Judges – Do What Is Right
He said that the state monitoring team on COVID-19 would continue to monitor to ensure that the outfits comply with the protocols, adding that defaulting outlets would be closed down.
“You recall that we had earlier relaxed the rules to enable churches and worship centers to hold more than one service while observing the protocols.
“But today, we are announcing further relaxation of rules to the effects that owners of movies and cinema houses can now operate but they can only do so at 50 per cent capacity.
“They must constantly fumigate the balsa and observed all the protocols according to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) directives; washing of hands, wearing facemasks and use of sanitisers are compulsory.
“Now, hotels and eateries can now allow people to eat within but they must not allow buffet but encourage takeaway while observing all the protocols.”
He said that government was still taken a look at Clubs and lounges, adding that they remained closed until further notice to ensure that opening them would not escalate and rubbish the gains recorded by the state government to check the spread of the virus.
He also announced that in line with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) decision, the state government has relaxed the curfew to 12 midnights and 4 a.m.