In a bid to enforce the lockdown order with a view to preventing the spread of Coronavirus Disease in the state, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Thursday signed the Osun Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020.
Oyetola noted that he made the order in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other relevant provisions of the State of Osun Public Health Law.
The law, it was gathered, was aimed at preventing and containing the spread of COVID- 19 anywhere within the territories of Osun State.
Following the signing of the law, anybody who violates the sit-at-home order will be sentenced to six months imprisonment or an option of fine upon conviction.
Similarly, under the law, transmission or dissemination of false information regarding COVID-19 is also an offence and attracts the same punishment, just as the promotion of unverified, untested or unapproved cures, vaccines or other similar items that purport to cure, alleviate or reduce instances of persons infected with COVID-19, also constitute an offence and offenders upon conviction will be liable to six months imprisonment or an option of fine.
“The governor may direct the removal of a Potentially Infectious Person, where such a person fails or refuses to go to a place specified for screening and assessment. The governor may direct a Potentially Infectious Person within a Local Area, to go into isolation for an initial period of 14 days,” part of the regulations read.
Signing the regulations, Oyetola said: “It has become imperative to go beyond making suggestions and giving directives in order to stem the tide of the spread of COVID-19, save lives, reduce ill health and ensure that the economy in which the people of the State of Osun operate does not become weakened and stretched, I make the following Regulations for the good order, safety, security and public health in the State of Osun.”
