Osun State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, has disclosed that five cases of the new COVID-19 strain have been discovered in the state.
Recall that the presidential task force on COVID-19 announced last week that the virus strain first reported in the UK had been found in Nigeria.
Egbemode expressed anxiety over this development because of what she called the deadly nature of the strain.
According to her, it was particularly worrisome because residents of the state were not strictly adhering to the laid down COVID-19 protocol.
“The Govt of Osun regrets to announce that the State has in the past few days recorded five cases of the violent and deadly B117 strain of COVID-19, which was first reported in the United Kingdom,” she said.
Egbemode expressed fears that more people could be vulnerable if the variant spread because it was more contagious and deadlier.
The commissioner urged Osun State residents to comply with all established COVID-19 protocol in order to nip the pandemic in the bud.
In a related development, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo has ordered that the state’s courtrooms be shut with immediate effect, while court staff below level 12 should work from home till further notice.
The Chief Judge, in a release signed by the Chief Registrar, M. A Lasisi, authorised all Osun State judiciary staff to undergo COVID-19 test immediately.
Osun State Government currently conducts the test free.
