The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has imposed a curfew on the state following increasing cases of COVID-19 in the area.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwuwlobe, said the curfew which would start on Monday next week would last from 9pm to 6am daily.

The Governor also directed workers in the state from Grade Level 1 to 12 to work from home.

He threatened to shut down markets in the state if they failed to observed COVID-19 protocols as prescribed.

The statement read in part, ” Government of Anambra state has announced the introduction of curfew in the state to help check the spread of COVID-19 virus. The curfew which will last from 9pm to 6am daily, will start on Monday, 8th February 2021, until further notice.

“His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano has directed that civil servants in the state from grade level one to 12 to work from home until further notice, with immediate effect.

“The state government has activated and made operational mobile courts to try COVID-19 protocol offenders, beginning from Monday, 8th February 2021”.

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“Also, the state COVID-19 Task Force, including the Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Trade and Commerce have been empowered to increase their hospitals and markets surveillance, and to close immediately any hospital (private and government-owned), and markets that do not comply with COVID-19 protocols in their operations.”

This came some days after the State House of Assembly was shutdown for fumigation against the virus.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Uche Okafor, said the complex was closed following a medical report that showed that many people using the facility tested positive for the virus.

On Wednesday, traditional rulers in the state underwent the COVID-19 test as part of the state’s institutional measures against the spread of the pandemic.