Vaccination order: Obaseki threatens to lockdown Edo

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki Wednesday warned that he would lock down the state if residents failed to comply with directives on vaccination and the use of non-pharmaceutical measures to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Obaseki had last week Monday, declared that from mid-September unvaccinated persons would not be allowed to access banks, religious and event centres in the state.

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But a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, restrained the governor from implementing his directive on compulsory vaccination.

Obaseki, while reacting to the court order, said the state government would commence intensive enforcement of the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to curb the current spike in COVID-19 infections and deaths in the state.

“The measures include compulsory wearing of facemasks, regular washing of hands or use of hand sanitisers, and maintenance of social and physical distancing in public places.

“Consequent on the rapid rise in infections and death from COVID-19, the government may be forced to implement a lockdown if there is a failure to follow the directives for vaccination and compliance with the Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention (NPIs) in order to halt the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19,” he said.

On the court order, he said the government would challenge the order in court, as it has the power to make such an order under the gazetted Quarantine Regulations

He said the state government has already instructed its lawyers to challenge all such orders in the courts while affirming its position as a law-abiding government.

“It must be made clear that the government shall continue to pursue all legal and administrative options available for the protection of the best interest of the good people of Edo State,” he said.

He said the directive is only a denial of access to public places of persons who chose not to be vaccinated.

“Government owes a sacred duty to the populace to take all actions necessary to protect the health of the majority of the citizens and in this connection, an even greater quantity of vaccines is being secured for the use of the people of Edo State,” he added.