Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has given a five-day ultimatum for the compulsory use of face masks by residents in the state, particularly in Yenagoa, the state capital.
It said the enforcement by the Security Sub-committee of the State Task Force on COVID-19 would begin from Monday next week.
The government said those were part of the decisions reached at a meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ehwrudjakpo and attended by heads of banks, supermarket operators and leaders of market associations.
Speaking on the enforcement plan, Ehwrudjakpo said henceforth non-use of face mask in public places such as banks, supermarkets, all markets, government offices and private business places as well as Keke riders and their passengers and motor parks would be criminalised in line with the Executive Order signed into law by Governor Douye Diri.
He emphasised that owners of business premises would be held liable for non-compliance.
He announced that government was providing more facemasks for free distribution to market people to encourage usage without being compelled.
Ehwrudjakpo said a similar meeting would be held with commercial tricycle operators as part of the measures to contain the pandemic in the state.
Various speakers in their separate remarks expressed concern over spike in COVID-19 infection rate across the country and promised to work closely with government to stem its spread.