Gbenro Adesina
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has announced the phased reopening of primary and secondary schools in the state from September 21, 2020.
Speaking in a statewide broadcast on Sunday, September 13, 2020, on all major radio and television channels, Fayemi said students in SSS II, JSS III and Primary 6 are to resume on September 21, 2020 to be followed by students in SSS I, JSS II and Primary 5 and 4 that are to resume from September 28, 2020.
Students in JSS I and Primary 1-3 are to resume on October 19, 2020 while pupils in Kindergarten and Nursery Schools are expected to resume on November 2, 2020 when more assurances of safety for their age bracket would have been established.
According to him, tertiary institutions in the state will be reopened to students on October 2 subject to adherence to safety protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The Governor stressed that the authorities of the tertiary institutions are to liaise with the state’s COVID-19 Task Force for guidance on the appropriate measures to be put in place before reopening.
Fayemi noted that the decision to open more classes was taken because there has been no spike traceable to students in exit classes who are writing their certificate examinations saying: “This shows that our preventive measures to safeguard them from being infected has been effective.”
On worship centres, Fayemi disclosed that they can henceforth hold two services on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays while midweek services and night vigils are still prohibited.
He said: “After a careful review and advice by the experts, I am glad to announce that worship centres can now hold two services on Friday, Saturday or Sunday as the case may be but mid-week activities and night vigils remain suspended for now. Other protocols and regulations concerning worship centres reopening still subsist.”
Reprieve also came for residents on social activities especially the ones taking place in halls and event centres with owners of such facilities now mandated to rent them to users but they should not contain more than 50 per cent of their normal capacities.
Fayemi said: “Owners of halls and event centres may now be allowed to rent out their facilities but under no condition should such a facility contain more than 50% of its normal capacity.
“This is to allow for social distancing. Events centres are expected to observe all protocols prescribed for religious centres and to obtain certificate of readiness before opening.”
The Governor, however, expressed concern on flouting of social distancing rules and non-use of face masks saying enforcement will also be scaled up to ensure compliance with COVID-19 regulations.
