Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has banned all forms of public gatherings in the state so as to curb the spread of coronavirus disease.
The governor also directed that civil servants in the state will, from 25 March, work from home but exempted those on essential duties.
Umahi also warned traditional rulers and council chairmen against shielding any person suspected to have contracted the deadly virus.
He stated this at the town hall meeting which held at the International Conference Centre Abakaliki, the State Capital.
The governor said burials, weddings, conferences, seminars and all other large gatherings are affected by the ban.
Umahi, who was represented by his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, said the ban is for a period of one month in the first instance.
He said the ban is part of measures to protect the people from contracting the deadly coronavirus which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
He said: “It is painful to take the decision but government had to reason that it is better to let the dead bury the dead for now.
“But if you feel that you cannot wait, then you can take the corpse and bury just you and your family without any ceremony.”
He further noted that anybody suspected to have contracted the virus should be sent immediately to the nearest health centre for onwards transfer to the state isolation centre at the Unity Square Abakaliki.
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