Edo state government has said it will restrict access to banks, churches, mosques and event centres to anyone without proof of COVID-19 vaccination starting this September.
Governor Godwin Obaseki announced the restrictions on Monday at the flag-off of the second phase of vaccination against COVID-19 in Benin City.
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He said the Delta variant was spreading fast and on the increase hence the need to vaccinate the people against the virus.
“We have two sets of vaccines, which are Moderna vaccines, which we just received, and an Astrazenecca vaccine for those who had not taken the second dose of it”.
Edo had at the weekend received 76,712 COVID-19, comprising 65,016 doses of Moderna and 11,696 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines.
According to him, the government will not shut down the state but must protect the lives of the people, adding that from September, large gatherings whether public or private would only be accessed by persons who have at least taken one dose of the vaccines.
“From the second week of September, people would not be allowed to worship in churches, mosques, entered event centres, parties or reception without showing proof of their vaccination card and date.
“Also from the second week of the week people will not be allowed to access banking service without proof of vaccination card and anyone who wants to access the services, you have to get vaccinated”.
He said they have made an adequate arrangement with security agents to prevent anybody who does not have a vaccination card from accessing any of the events.
He said the state has collected 6,306 samples, out of which 203 were positive, and four of them have died.
He said about 96 per cent of them, including the dead, have not been vaccinated.
He said vaccination will put a stop to the spread of the virus while persons who receive it stand a chance to survive even when infected with the virus
While urging stakeholders to support the government in improving access to the vaccines, he appealed to the residents to make themselves available for vaccines at designated points across the state.