Distribution of food palliatives, tax relief for businesses, and other ways Anambra is responding to COVID-19
The continuous spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria is putting some of the states without confirmed cases on their toes to brace up for eventualities.
The Anambra state government has said it is also taking action to prepare for eventualities while also putting measures in place to contain COVID-19 transmissions and cushion the effect of the lockdown of activities on the people of the state.
As of Friday April 3, 2020, the Southeastern state has no confirmed case of the deadly virus which has infected 190 people in Nigeria. In its response to the virus, the state had earlier suspended schools and social activities, shut markets and asked workers to work from home.
Governor Willie Obaino, on Thursday, announced that the state is rolling out the distribution of food palliatives to older members of the society who are above age 70 to cushion the effect of the lockdown.
“We have commenced the distribution of 200 bags of rice to each of the 181 communities in Anambra State to be distributed among our senior citizens from 70 years and above. In communities where we have more than 200 people within the specified age bracket, distribution shall start from the oldest to the youngest in the age bracket,” Obiano said
He also added that to ensure that students are not adversely affected by the closure of schools, classes will now hold on Radio, television and social media.
Other measures announced by the governor include:
1. Set up of a 250-bed Isolation Center at the NYSC Orientation Camp and another 16-bed Isolation Centre at the General Hospital Onitsha.
2. Two Surge Centers which will be equipped by Fidelity and Access Banks with a 60-bed facility each that meets the World Health Organization standards on Coronavirus.
3. Closure of boundaries with neighbouring states and shut down of 63 major markets.
4. 10% relief on personal income taxes to businesses for the year 2019. This means businesses that have been paying taxes regularly will get a 10% refund of the entire sum they paid in 2019.
5. Distribution of three million masks to residents in the 181 communities in the State to commence soon.
6. Fumigation of the 63 markets in the State while the traders are at home.
7. Two months waiver to tricycle and shuttle bus operators in the state on the usual permits they pay. This covers April and May, 2020.
