Cross River State Medical Association warns against resumption of religious gatherings

Earlier, Governor Ben Ayade had announced the lifting of ban on religious gatherings after about two months due to COVID-19 outbreak.

The Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River State branch, has warned the state government against the opening of religious activities. The association also called for more testing of suspected persons in the state.

Governor Ben Ayade had announced the lifting of ban on religious gatherings after about two months due to COVID-19 outbreak. Ayade said he made the decision after plea from religious leaders.

Reacting to the lifting of the ban, the medical association urged the state government to review its policy, saying the guideline for the reopening of worship centres goes against the social distance guideline. The group said,

“Our concern is that the order stipulates the number of worshippers to be limited to the sitting capacity of the church/mosque.

The usual sitting capacity of most worship centres does not allow for physical distancing of at least one metre that reduces the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

We advise that this policy should be reviewed, taking into cognisance physical distancing and local peculiarities of various worship centres.”

Frowning against the low number of tests carried out in the state, the medical association said the Cross River State Government currently had no listed NCDC designated Molecular Laboratory Testing Centre in progress or completed on the NCDC Molecular Laboratory Network.

It added that the only available NCDC Laboratory catchment for Coronavirus testing for Cross River State is at Irrua, Edo State. It added,

“Irrua is about 447.9km (7h 50min) from Calabar when compared to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, another testing centre that is 188.9km (3h 17min) from Calabar, which also shares a boundary with Cross River State.

The present situation makes sample transportation very expensive and cumbersome occasioned by restrictions in interstate movement.

We use this medium to call on NCDC to change the testing centre of Cross River State from Irrua to Abakaliki."

Trump orders places of worship to be reopened immediately

US President Donald Trump has announced that he has ordered governors to open up places of worship opining that is wrong for some state governors to designate 'liquor stores and abortion clinics' as 'essential services' but keep places of worship like churches, mosques and synagogues closed.

Amid the Coronavirus pandemic hat has killed over 95,000 people in the US, Trump on Friday said he is designating all places of worship – including churches, synagogues and mosques – "essential," saying he wants them to "open right now."

Reacting to the move by state governors of keeping "liquor stores and abortion centres" open during during the lockdown while keeping places of worship shuttered, Trump said in the White House briefing room,

"It's not right. I'm calling houses of worship essential."

"If there's any question, they're going to have to call me, but they're not going to be successful in that call," Trump said of state leaders.

"The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, for this weekend, If they don't do it, I will override the governors. It's not right. This move is aimed at correcting this injustice. If there's any question, they're going to have to call me, But they are not going to be successful in that call. America, we need more prayer, not less", Mr Trump said before leaving the briefing room.

Trump appeared in the briefing room to read a short statement announcing he has approved guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help state and local leaders safely allow worship facilities to open back up.