The Edo State Government has said that it has not authorised the reopening of schools for 3rd term academic activities, warning that the government will impose sanctions on schools that would flout the directive.

In a statement, Commissioner for Education, Hon. (Barr.) Jimoh Ijegbai, said the state government did not authorise the reopening of schools whether public or private, including certificate classes.

He said: “It has come to the attention of the Edo State Government that some schools in Edo State have reopened and some are planning to reopen for the 3rd term academic session.”

Ijegbai added: “For the avoidance of doubt, the state government has not authorised schools whether public or private, even the certificate classes to reopen under the present circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A date of resumption will be communicated to all stakeholders after modalities have been put in place to ensure the safety of our children and wards.”

The commissioner urged school proprietors to be guided by the state government’s directive, warning that adequate sanctions will be meted out on any school that flouts the directive.

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed that 80 more coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have recovered and cleared to reunite with their families and the society after testing negative to the virus.

In a statement, the governor said the death toll in the state has risen to 43, with the elderly accounting for a large number of the fatalities, urging residents to observe precautionary measures to stay safe, healthy as well as protect the aged.

Obaseki noted: “We have discharged 80 more COVID-19 patients from our isolation centres. The number of discharges now stands at 498. We lost one more person to the virus, bringing the number of fatalities to 43.  Stay safe and protect our aged parents, who are most endangered”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia, said the state has recorded a total of 1,203 confirmed cases, 6,046 suspected cases and exited 2,532 others, including 2,185 line-listed contacts and 347 persons-of-interest (POI), who have completed the compulsory 14-day follow-up and tested negative.

Okundia said the 1,203 confirmed cases were recorded in Oredo (391), Esan West (117), Egor (223), OviaNorth East (86), Ikpoba-Okha (160), Uhunmwode (14), Etsako Central (2), Esan South East (7), Akoko-Edo (1), Esan Central (107),Ovia South West (19), Owan East (1), Esan North East (43), Etsako West (20),Etsako East (9),Orhionmwon (2),Owan West (1) Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The commissioner, who reassured residents that the state government would continue to intensify efforts to contain the pandemic and protect the Edo people, said the state has tested over 6,371 residents, and is contact-tracing 2,794 others as well as visited over 1,035 rural and urban communities for Active Case Search (ACS) activities.

He added: “While the state government intensifies efforts to protect the Edo people from this deadly disease, we urge all citizens to stay at home and observe all precautionary measures against the spread of the infectious disease, including regular handwashing with soap under running water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers. Cover your mouth and nose properly when sneezing and/or coughing.”

Adewumi Faniran

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