By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Nkanu East Local Government Committee on COVID-19 pandemic in Enugu State has dismissed what it termed misinformation that the Coronavirus is a disease for the rich and big cities.

The Committee said the pandemic could infect anybody, insisting that the only way to stay free was to observe social distancing, personal hygiene, and directives and guidelines issued by the Federal Government, the Government of Enugu State, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Committee stated this during a sensitization tour of communities in the Asu Nkanu, Nkanu South, Amankanu, and Nkanu North Central Development Centres of the Nkanu East Local Government Area, on Sunday April 05.

Delivering the message of the Council Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Nwobodo, at the Amankanu Development Centre, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Local Council, Hon. Martin Agbo, who engaged church, political, traditional, and community leaders, urged them to continue to educate the communities on the need to put on hold all forms of social and cultural events, including weddings and burial ceremonies, masquerade festivals, among others, until the government directed otherwise.

“Please, we beg you to discard the falsehood that Coronavirus is for big men or people in the big cities. It is a disease that can get anybody who exposes himself or herself to it, whether young or old, rich or poor.

“We need to our people that the way to stay safe is by strictly observing all the directives, protocol, and guides by the Enugu State Government, Federal Government, and the NCDC.

“The shutdown of markets, state borders, and interstate transport must be adhered to. The relevant authorities and security agencies and local outfits like the Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch groups will be working round the clock.

“As leaders at this level, we expect you to work with relevant authorities to ensure compliance and enforcement of the directives of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the safety and wellbeing of our people,” Hon. Agbo said.

The sensitisation tour also witnessed the distribution of sanitary materials such as liquid soap, hand sanitisers, plastic buckets with taps as well as food items and palliatives to stem community spread of the pandemic and cushion its economic impacts on the vulnerable members of the communities.