Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje, has relaxed the state’s lockdown due to Ramadan.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has relaxed the state’s lockdown from 6am to 12pm for Thursday alone.
Nasiru Gawuna, the deputy governor, announced this at a press conference on Wednesday, 22nd April, explaining that the decision was to allow citizens stockpile foodstuff and other items in preparation for the Ramadan period.
“In view of preparation for Ramadan period, the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has relax the ongoing lockdown from 6am-12pm on Thursday to enable people buying necessary foodstuff and items needed for Ramadan period which is expected to commence on Friday,” he said.
Ganduje urged residents to support his administration’s efforts in curbing the spread of the disease in the state which has so far recorded 73 COVID-19 cases.
On his part, Tijjani Hussaini, state coordinator of state’s COVID-19 task force, said those exposed to COVID-19 patients were being traced.
“We were able to monitor 53 cases of passengers of interest that came from epicentre from some states and outside the country,” Hussaini said.
“Anybody in contact with a confirmed case will be traced – 300 contacts recorded and 290 contacts [have been traced] by phone or their houses so as to test them.”
The coordinator said the state government is working to enhance its response to the disease.
Meanwhile, only one COVID-19 death has been recorded in Kano, according to Abdullahi Ganduje.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Ganduje said contrary to some reports that there have been several deaths from the COVID-19, only one death has actually been recorded since the disease hit the state.
“That information is not correct because we undertook some survey and investigation (about the initial report of 70 deaths). We found out that it was only 13 deaths in that place and we will soon get a complete report but I assure you that that information is not correct,” the governor said.
He added that “looking at previous reviews, there is nothing to show that there is unusual frequency of deaths”.
According to him, there has been a rise in the spread of fake news but the government has started making efforts to arrest peddlers.
“You know that there is a lot of fake news going around and we have already started arresting all those who are peddling such rumours.”
“The death recorded from coronavirus is only one and the NCDC is aware of that,” the governor stressed.
His comments come hours after the newly established testing centre for COVID-19 in the State suspended its operation.
(Ganduje Kano Ramadan in Kano)
