The government of the State of Osun has ordered the reopening of hotels, event halls, bars, restaurants, fast food and canteen joints, hairdressing and barbing shops and others in the hospitality industry in the state.
All these businesses have been on total lockdown to prevent the spread of Corona virus since March 2020 when the index case of the pandemic was recorded in Osun.
The state government ordered the reopening of these businesses as part of the next phase of easing the Covid-19 imposed lockdown.
The state Deputy Governor and Chairman state technical committee on Covid-19 Mr Benedict Alabi announced the decision
at a meeting he had with the representatives of owners of hotels, bars, relaxation joints and other businesses in the hospitality industry across the state held at the governor’s office Abere.
Alabi said the decision to reopen the hospitality industry businesses was taken at the state executive council virtual meeting presided over by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
According to Alabi, the meeting held with the stakeholders in the hospitality industry was necessary in order to communicate to them the protocols required to guide them to prevent further spread of the dreaded disease after reopening.
Alabi also announced that there would be free online registration for all the operators in the industry as from 28th of August and the enforcement would begin from 1st of September.
He said this would guarantee proper record, monitoring and control of the activities in the hospitality industry in Osun.
Alabi said the Protocols that must be observed by the operators in the industry for the reopening of their businesses include the use of face masks by all the occupants in the business premises at all times, adequate provision of hand washing equipment with running water and handwash ( soap) or hand sanitizer that must be situated at the entrances.
Other guidelines are, social distancing of about 4 feet minimum to be maintained always, all social spaces to be operated at 50% capacity while all the food handlers must be in comfortable to breathing face masks all times both at the kitchens and on counters and any customer without face mask on must not be allowed in.
The Deputy Governor who added also that there must be no night party however warned that failure to comply by any operator in the industry would warrant immediate closure of such business premises with fines imposed before reopening.
He appreciated their cooperation and support in the last five months,assuring that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration will never relent in it’s effort to prioritize heathy living and the well being of the people of Osun.
Alabi said the state government has been able to manage the global pandemic effectively with about less than 15 deaths recorded so far against the earlier predictions which he attributed to the total commitment and proactiveness of the govt and the cooperation and support of the people of Osun.
