The Rivers Government has expressed deep worry that the state could gradually become the next epicentre of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) with rising number of positive cases of the pandemic.
Consequently, the state government has kmposed a total lockdown of Bonny Local Government Area and Onne community in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
This is contained in a statement isued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Paulinus Nsirim, in Port Harcourt.
According to the statement, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, annou ed the measures to contain further spread of the virus in a statewide broadcast on Saturday.
Nsirim stated that the total lockdown, expected to take effect from June 21 in the affected areas, was meant to check the spread of coronavirus in the state.
“The Governor noted that with a total of 866 positive cases out of 2,572 tested samples, the State is gradually becoming the next epicentre of the virus in the South-South region of the country.
“He said that within this period, the state also recorded 30 deaths, including prominent persons, while 356 persons recovered and were discharged from Treatment Centres.
“According to the Governor, only today the state recorded 127 new cases leaving the Isolation and Treatment Centres overwhelmed”, He said.