Covid-19: Gov Obaseki Orders Closure of Schools

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has ordered closure of schools across the state.

While disclosing this on Friday January 15, 2021, Obaseki stated that the order was due to the surge in the cases of COVID-19 in the state.

He added that the school resumption which was earlier scheduled for January 18 in line with the Federal Government’s directive has been shifted to February 1.

“Comparing the first six weeks of the pandemic from March 23, 2020, with the first six weeks since December 1, 2020, Edo State has witnessed an 84.5 percent rise in the number of infected persons.

“There has also been a 10.5 percent increase in the number of older persons infected with Covid-19. It is early days yet, but we have evidence suggesting that more older persons infected with COVID-19 are dying,” Obaseki said.

“Most of the cases in the early phase of the pandemic were travel-related but since December 2020, there has been a 13.9 percent increase in community transmission of the disease. This is a big concern especially with the evidence before us that there has been a 15 percent increase in the number of persons infected with COVID-19 who show no signs or symptoms of the disease, but are transmitting it in our communities. Our children and youth are major contributors to this group,” he added

“Schools are to remain shut till February 1, 2021, when the prevailing realities are to be reviewed to determine if it would be safe to reopen the schools,” he concluded.