The Benue State Government, Wednesday, reopened worship centres and markets across the state after a two-month lockdown to contain COVID-19.
Gov. Samuel Ortom announced the decision after the State Executive Council met with the State Action Committee on COVID-19 at the Government House in Makurdi.
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Ortom said, “Churches and mosques are to open for services. However, they must keep to all Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols.
“They should respect standards and do many services as they wish.
“No service should last for more than one hour.”
He said markets which had been hitherto closed should also reopen but subject to observing all laid down rules of COVID-19, while public gatherings remained limited to 20 people.
He also said all categories of civil servants in the state should resume work on June 8, 2020, adding that the workers were advised to always wear face masks and maintain social distancing as they went to work.
The governor further said he would disclose the state government’s next line of action over the resumption of schools, while inter-state movement remained prohibited, except for those on essential services.