Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has extended the lockdown order in the state by another 30 days following a recommendation by the State Standing Committee on COVID-19, which is presided by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe. The extension took effect yesterday.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor (Media & Communication), Muyiwa Adekeye.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai has endorsed this evaluation and has accordingly reviewed the Quarantine Orders to strengthen the provisions against unauthorised movements.

‘’The two-day window during which the restriction of movement is relaxed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays has been reduced to only one day.  Henceforth, only Wednesdays will be lockdown-free, until the trajectory of COVID-19 infections becomes clearer.

‘’All persons that venture out of their homes for whatever reason must wear facemasks and observe social distancing everywhere they go, in markets and in authorised vehicles.

‘’Government is making efforts to provide face masks for poor and vulnerable residents, and it appeals to everyone that can afford it to get their tailors to make them cloth face masks which they can wash after every use.

‘’The government also encourages tailors to produce face masks for sale to those that are neither poor nor vulnerable.

‘’Wearing of face masks will be robustly enforced as a critical public health measure to reduce person-to-person transmission.”The statement read.

According to the state government, the measures announced on 26th March 2020, to contain COVID-19 remained in operation and had been renewed.