The Ondo State government has ordered the arrest of anybody walking in the street without wearing a nose mask in the state.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who stated this while flagging off the distribution of 500,000 nose masks produced by tailors in the state, said it has become an offence to move around the state without wearing a nose mask.
Akeredolu said anybody arrested for not wearing a nose mask would be placed on 14 days isolation at the person’s own cost.
Akeredolu said the state embarked on the production of the nose masks and subsequent distribution as part of his government’s numerous efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.
He warned against not wearing nose masks in public places, saying the best protection against contracting COVID-19 was the wearing of nose masks.
He stated that the initiative of massive production and distribution of nose masks was borne out of his desire for the welfare of the people of the state.
He said his administration engaged the services of 400 tailors across the state to enable generate income to cushion the effect of the lockdown caused by COVID-19.
The governor explained that the nose masks were produced according to specifications of international health organisations and the materials deployed met the prescribed medical standards.
He said, “Our tailors working on the production processes are happy. They are happy not because there is COVID-19, but for having the opportunity to exhibit their talents, learning new skills, and being able to generate income to cushion the effects of the pandemic on their livelihood.
“In the course of the production of these nose masks, over 400 tailors were engaged who are working round the clock to ensure that we meet our target for our teeming populace.
“Wearing of nose masks in public places is mandatory for every resident in the state. Enforcement has already commenced.
“It is significant for me to inform the public that whoever is arrested for not wearing the nose mask will be kept in the isolation centre for 14 days and have his specimen taken to be tested for the virus. Such an individual will be responsible for his or her upkeep at the centre.”
Some of the tailors commended the governor for engaging them at a time their shops were closed down because of the coronavirus pandemic, noting that their business was worst hit by COVID-19 because people no longer patronise them.
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