A/Ibom acquires 63, 336 doses of modena vaccines; Records 796 active cases

Dennis Udoma, Uyo

Akwa Ibom COVID – 19 active cases as at Thursday August 20, 2021 has hit 796.

Secretary to the State Government and Chairman, Incident Management Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem disclosed this at a media bringing in his office.

The situation, he said, has forced the State Government to roll out vaccination of her citizenry in a couple of weeks.

Dr. Ekuwem said because of that, the state has taken delivery of 63, 336 doses of the Modena vaccines, and called on the people to take advantage of the exercise to get vaccinated.

He said the state government will enforce compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, assuring that the monitoring mechanisms recently reactivated to ensure strict compliance with guidelines and protocols,  shall henceforth apprehend anyone flouting the directive.

Government according to the SSG, has issued a one hour maximum duration approval for religious gatherings, and warned that businesses, worship places and corporate organizations risk shut down if they fail to  comply with the directives.

“It has since been confirmed by NCDC that the Delta variant of COVID-19 virus found in other parts of the country is in our dear State and, that would partly explain the rapid increase in the number of cases in the State because of its high infectivity rate.

“It has therefore, become imperative that we take actions to rein in the spread of the infection in the state. We have however noted, sadly, that the necessary precautions and guidelines earlier recommended are hardly being adhered to by most people thereby jeopardizing our health and making the control of the pandemic very difficult

“Just yesterday the State took delivery of sixty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-six (63,336) doses of the Modena vaccine as part of its effort to combat the pandemic. Full roll out of vaccination commences immediately. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to get vaccinated and protected against the virus.

“The vaccine is safe and effective. It shall be available at designated areas in Uyo and PHC Bases in the different LGAs.

“Government shall henceforth enforce compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.  Religious houses should run at half capacity and services should last not more than one hour.

“Hotels, sit-outs, clubs, schools, transport companies, supermarkets, Banks, pharmacies should all ensure compliance with all COVID-19 preventive measures in their facilities.

“Report any suspicious symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty in breathing and body pains and weakness to the nearest COVID-19 facility by using the following help lines 08000275664, 08189411111”, he said.