Kano extends total lockdown by two weeks as COVID-19 deaths rise

The Ganduje-led Kano State Government has extended the total lockdown imposed on the state by President Muhammadu Buhari by two weeks.

The state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, who disclosed this early Tuesday, said his principal, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, extended the lockdown by one more week to further contain the spread of the pandemic.

According to the state government, the decision was reached after due consultations with the Federal Government and key stakeholders in the health sector.

Confirming the development, Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, tweeted, “Kano State Government has announced the extension of the total lockdown imposed on the state by one week to help further combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The retired major general during an address on April 27 imposed a two-week total lockdown on the state to curb the spread of the virus.

“With regards to Kano, I have directed the enforcement of a total lockdown for a period of two weeks effective immediately. The Federal Government shall deploy all the necessary human, material, and technical resources to support the state in controlling and containing the pandemic and preventing the risk of further spread to neighbouring states,” the President had said.

According to the state health ministry as of Monday night, 666 confirmed infections have been reported including 32 associated deaths.