Imo COVID-19 Task Force to Tighten Surveillance Along State’s Boundary

The Imo State Covid-19 Task Force on Thursday promised to tighten surveillance along the state’s boundary to check illegal movements of people in and out of the state.

Dr Success Prosper, the team leader of the taskforce, made the promise when the taskforce visited officials of the Imo State Marketers and Traders Association (ISMATA) to sensitive them on the nature and mode of transmission of Corona Virus.

He said that the enforcement committee of the taskforce was making all efforts to restrict illegal movements in the state.

Prosper said the interaction was to inform the association on what they should do to protect their members from COVID-19.

He advised them to understand the benefits of hygiene both at home and in market places to be able to contain the virus.

“We have informed you, we have sensitised you, now you have understood what we are saying and we believe you will pass the message to your members,” he said.

Prosper said that government alone could not fight the virus and urged the market leaders to ensure they provided water for their members as well as sanitisers, adding that people must support government’s efforts to protect themselves.

The President of ISMATA, Chief Jonathan Odikanwa, expressed gratitude to the Imo State Government for the measures so far taken to contain the coronavirus since its emergence in the country.

He said the leadership of the association was making efforts to ensure that members were enlightened and the directives of the state government to stay safe and close markets were observed.

Odikanwa said that the association had provided face masks and sanitizers to members to prevent the spread of the virus.

Mr Chris Okere, a member of the Covid-19 Taskforce representing the association in the taskforce, also expressed gratitude to the team for taking the sensitisation to marketers and traders in the state.

He said the taskforce had been doing a good job in the state by re-orientating members of the public on the need to play safe against the corona virus and promised that the message would get to all ISMATA members.