The Kano State Government has said that markets would be open on Mondays and Thursdays during the lockdown to enable residents of the state stock-up food items and other essential commodities.
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje made this known while giving an update on COVID -19 campaign, on Saturday at Government House, Kano.
Ganduje said that only two markets and some super markets would be allowed to operate in the state between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.
“Only Yankaba and Yanlemo perishable produce markets as well as some super markets will operate strictly with face masks directives,” he said.
Ganduje directed the eight local governments in Kano metropolis to distribute face masks to citizens during the market days.
They local governments include Kano Municipal, Gwale, Nasarawa, Dala, Fagee, Tarauni, Kumbotso and Ungogo.
On the preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ganduje said that Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital test centre had the capacity to handle 80 samples a day, while Bayero University Kano and Dangote mobile testing centre, which would soon commence operation, had 400 daily samples capacity.
Deputy Governor Nasiru Gawuna, who also spoke, said that state government was converting other facilities into isolation centres in addition to the existing three designated centres at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Kwanar Dawaki Hospital and Sani Abacha Stadium.
Gawuna, who is also the Chairman of the State Task Force Committee on COVID-19, noted that the conversion of the Hospitality and Tourism Institute, formerly called Daula Hotel, to an isolation centre with an estimated 50 bed capacity, would start immediately.
He added that an 80-bed capacity isolation centre would be set up at Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital next week.
“The Isolation Centre at Murtala Muhammad Library Complex is expected to accommodate over 200 beds, while an estimated 300 beds will be provided at Karfi Sports Institute,” he said.
On palliative, the Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Garo, disclosed that the committee had completed the distribution exercise in three emirate councils.
He said that the exercise would soon commence in Gaya Emirate Council, adding that the second round of the exercise targeting 50,000 households would commence next week.
The commissioner said that the state government planned to meet the initial target of palliative for 300,000 households in the state.nan
