The Anambra State House of Assembly has passed an executive bill aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other dangerous infectious diseases in the state.
The bill cited as the COVID-19 and other dangerous infectious diseases, prevention and eradication law 2020, was passed by the parliament during an emergency sitting on Thursday, April 16 with strict observation of all preventive measures including hygiene and social distancing.
Speaking after the passage of the bill into law, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Uchenna Okafor, presented the new law to the people of the state.
Mr. Okafor while describing coronavirus as a deadly disease said the bill is aimed at ensuring the containment and eradication of COVID-19 and other dangerous infectious diseases in the State.
He, therefore, asked residents to adhere strictly to it, warning that penalties including imprisonment will be served on those who do not comply with the law.
On his part, the Majority leader of the House and member representing Awka South constituency, Nnamdi Okafor, noted that the new law will complement the directives already provided by the government to combat the disease in the state.
Some of the directives include the closure of state boundaries, restriction of movements, comprehensive but temporary lockdown, restriction on public gatherings, social distancing as well as personal hygiene and safety health measures among others.
The House also set up a ten-man committee known as the House of Assembly COVID-19 Observation Team headed by the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Pascal Agbodike.
The Bill stipulates that anybody who violates any of the provisions of five to nine directives commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one hundred thousand naira or a term of one-month imprisonment.