By DANIELA ITOE NGUM
The Divisional Officer, D.O. for Kumba II Sub-Division, Edwin Nkenya Ngwana has cautioned his population not to consider government measures put in place to fight against the spread of the coronavirus in the country a punishment, but a means to curb the spread of the virus.
The D.O. averred that the measures, especially that of wearing face mask should be considered a blessing because they are meant to protect them against contracting the virus.
“The law is clear that in any public place be it the road, market, office etc you must wear a mask, the population should be sensitised that whenever one is going out of his house he should wear the mask and remove it when home with family. After all, the advice is for the population to stay more at home and then wear the mask when they are going out. The population is even advised to go out when it is extremely necessary, so they should wear it when they are going out because if they don’t they will have problems with the forces of law and order who are permanently out to carry out this control and to enforce this government measure”, he emphasised.
The DO further noted that in as much as a few persons still consider the measures a punishment, the majority of the population is happy with the measures put in place because they know it is for their good. He added that based on his recent sensitisation tour, over 95% of the population of Kumba II Sub-Division have begun adhering to government measures against COVID 19.
According to the administrator, those caught not adhering to these measures will not go unpunished: “The few people who were not putting on their face masks…the forces of law and order took them and they will be punished accordingly.”
The sanctions, he said are equally extended to the transport sector: “We also had the opportunity to control bike riders, those who were carrying more than one passenger found their bikes impounded and the bike riders will be sanctioned accordingly.”
In case of a business place like leisure spots that does not respect the 6pm deadline, such business premises will be sealed for a couple of days and will be opened upon payment of a stated fine at the state treasury. The DO said the sanctions have gone a long way to instill a degree of order in the Sub-division in respect to the measures put in place by the government.
Ngwana further used the opportunity to call on his population to see the need to respect all measures put in place by government to curb the spread of COVID 19 in the country.