Worship centres and schools in Ekiti State will reopen in July, Governor Kayode Fayemi said on Tuesday.

Fayemi said the state government would reopen places of worship and schools across the state effective from July 17 and 20 respectively.

Fayemi also said that the state had taken an N2.5bn Life Insurance cover of N2m each for 500 frontline medical personnel involved in the COVID-19 assignment, saying the move was in addition to the prompt payment of COVID-19 special allowances to qualified cadres.

The governor, who spoke in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday evening, said, as part of efforts to curtail and contain community spread which chances were high with the present development, said,

“Our random community testing starting with Ikere Ekiti Council on July 1, 2020 and moving from council to council”.

He said,

“Efforts are now in top gear to ensure our children return to school from July 20, 2020 as recommended by the interface between the Ministry of Education and all stakeholders in the education sector”.

Fayemi, who said the schools’ resumption would be in phases starting with students in terminal classes (SS3, JSS3 and Primary six) to prepare for their examinations, said, “Other classes will be gradually absorbed as schools meet all requirements to accommodate them safely and responsibly”.

“As jointly agreed with the leadership of the faith community, religious worship centres may resume controlled services from Friday July 17, 2020 starting with worship services once a week; Friday Jumat for Muslims and Saturday and Sunday Services for Christians.

“This is however subject to strict and full compliance with the regulations regarding worship centres which include social distancing of six-feet between worshippers, hand washing and face masks,” the governor said.

He added,

“By the current assessment of the situation and the advice of the experts, we have decided to proceed as follows: Free unhindered movement will continue Mondays – Fridays only from 6:00 am to 8:00pm daily while Dusk to Dawn Curfew will be enforced 8:00pm – 5:59 am seven days a week.

“There shall continue to be a restriction of movement at weekends (Saturday and Sunday) until July 19, subject to the conditional relaxation of church attendance on Saturdays and Sundays. In conformity with the Federal Government directive, the ban on travel to and from Ekiti State is hereby lifted except during the Dusk to Dawn curfew daily.

“The ban on large gathering of more than 20 persons except on approved worship days continues. Social, political or business gatherings like parties, burials, meetings, bars, viewing centres, sports meet must not exceed 20 persons and must comply with prevention protocols of six-feet social distancing, face masks and hand washing,” he said.