The Ekiti State government has postponed the reopening of churches and mosques in the state until August 14 as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the state.
This was announced in a statement by the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, in the state.
She explained that the decision to shift the date for the reopening of worship centres in Ekiti was taken to enable the stakeholders have enough time to meet the government’s conditions.
Yaya-Kolade, who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Reopening of Worship Places in Ekiti, noted a communique by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
She believes the statement which emanated from the Christian group is suggestive of the fact that worship centres are not ready to comply with the conditions set out by the government.
According to the commissioner, the government is committed to its constitutional responsibility for the safety of lives and properties of residents in the state.
She stressed that for worship centres to reopen, the government will take seriously, fumigation of the premises, social distancing, provision of infrared thermometer, hours of worship.
Yaya-Kolade insisted that it was important to enforce the age limit, saying children between the age of one to 12 and adults above the age of 65 years should be exempted from congregational worships.
Ekiti reported five new cases of (COVID-19) on Thursday, bringing to 72 the total number of confirmed cases in the state.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said 30 patients were receiving treatment at the government’s isolation centre, 40 others have been discharged while two persons have lost the battle to COVID-19.
1 Comment
It is stupidity to day Churches should exempt children and older ages from Church worship.
I counsel the Christian bodies to refuse it in its entirety.