The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma , yesterday raised the alarm about the increasing number of people testing positive and dying from COVID-19 in the state.
Speaking to Vanguard News State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Uzodinma said that already, community leaders in the state had started engaging town criers in sensitizing the people on the need to obey all the protocols.
He said: “The number of people testing positive and dying is on the increase, state government alone cannot as a matter of honesty summon the capacity and resources to address this menace. So we also pleaded and Mr. President has promised that he will intervene.”
On needs from the President, Uzodinma said: “We need medical support, we need equipment, we need oxygen, we need well equipped isolation centers, we need to test more and also when people test positive, we need to have the resources, the medication to ensure that the thing is remedied.”
Uzodinma said the state has in place a Task Force on COVID-19 and that measures were being taken to reduce the spread of the disease and ensure the safety of all citizens.
He said: “Few days ago I issued an Executive Order to make not wearing mask a crime in Imo State. So, any moment from now, we will begin to arrest people refusing to wear masks. I have given a 14 -day ultimatum for all coming into Imo State to wear their face mask and comply with NCDC protocol or be arrested and tried.
“I have created six mobile courts to handle that. We don’t joke. It is better we offend people than to allow this disease to continue to spread in Imo State.
“I have in place a Task Force on COVID-19 chaired by Prof. Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of INEC and they have done well. We have in place four isolation centres, fully equipped and the government partnering with the private sector has also equipped an additional isolation centre at the University Teaching Hospital, Orlu.
“But the number is growing daily and those testing positive are also on the increase so I think we need to prepare more grounds; build more isolation centres, get more medications, get oxygen and also try to have respiratory support equipment for those who have difficulty in breathing after they have been infected.”