The Oyo State Government has not lifted the ban on religious activities and the curfew imposed on the state as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the COVID-19 Task Force has said.

Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, in a statement on Tuesday, said the task force was still evaluating the situation in the state and would not adhere to the decision by the Presidential Task Force [PTF] on COVID-19.

WuzupNigeria reports that the PTF had relaxed the ban on religious gathering and the curfew.

It added that the position of the task force was informed by the risk situation analysis being undertaken by a team of experts.

It read in parts,

“The Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force wishes to alert the public that the ban on religious gathering remains in force in the state. The 8pm to 5am curfew earlier imposed on the state as a result of the ravaging pandemic, will also remain in force until further notice.

“This is because the task force is awaiting a risk, situation analysis report by a team of experts earlier commissioned to do so.

“The report is expected at the end of the week and it is only after the report has been analysed by the Task Force that it can be in a position to make further clarifications.”

According to the statement, the task force will always make its decisions in relation to the behavioural patterns of the novel Coronavirus in its domain, relying on science, logic and data, assuring residents that the state is leaving no stone unturned in curtailing the spread of the dreaded virus.

It added that the Emergency Operations Centre of the task force will, on Wednesday, commence the community testing for COVID-19, with the aim of determining the behaviour of the virus in the state.

The statement indicated that the exercise, scheduled to hold in 10 locations, would kick off in three different sites in Ibadan on Wednesday.