The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has announced the reinforcement of COVID-19 restrictions, following the increase in the number of positive cases in the state.

Recently, the state recorded 85 cases in five days.

In a statement on Tuesday, Governor Fayemi was worried about the effect of the COVID-19 third wave. But he vowed that the state would not leave anything to chance.

“In the month of July, we recorded 95 cases, and we have now recorded 85 cases in the first week of August. 85 cases in just five days.

“We are obviously experiencing the third wave with more cases than we experienced in the second wave in March 2021,” the governor declared.

Consequently, he announced that all public gatherings should observe the previous rule of restriction to 50 people at most.

“Our religious gatherings in the state would be with temporary restrictions starting from Friday, August 13, 2021, for Muslims and Sunday, August 15, 2021, for Christians,” the governor said.

“All gatherings must be held in strict and full compliance with the regulations regarding worship centres which include social distancing of six-feet between worshippers, hand washing, and face masks.”

He also spelled out the rules for other gatherings.

Fayemi said schools must be fumigated and gave an assurance that the government would take delivery of more doses of COVID-19 vaccines and intensify testing.

“I have also approved the sensitization and screening of teachers for Covid-19 upon resumption,” he disclosed. “All efforts to ensure safe school reopening will be put in place before school resumption.”

The governor asked all residents to adhere to the rules of hand washing, use of face masks, and other existing protocols as prescribed.

According to him, members of the state’s task force will go round to assess the level of compliance with a view to bringing defaulters to book.