Cross River State bans people from appearing in public without facemasks as from Friday April 3

CROSS River State government has imposed new restrictions on residents directing that nobody will be allowed move about without a face mask as from Friday April 3 as part of its fight against the dreaded coronavirus.

Although so far Cross River State has not recorded any incidence of the pandemic, there has been once incidence in neighbouring Akwa Ibom State. As a result, Governor Ben Ayade, said facemask wearing will be compulsory in public, while all public gatherings remain banned and all markets closed except food markets.

Christian Ita, Governor Ayade's spokesman, said: “No citizen or resident of the state will be allowed to leave home without a face mask from Friday 3rd, April 2020. Failure to adhere to this directive will lead to the arrest and quarantine of the offenders for 14 days.

“The Cross River State garment factory has been mandated to produce face masks to be freely distributed to citizens and residents alike to meet with the demand. Those who for one reason or the other are unable to get masks from government before the new restrictions kick in, are advised to purchase theirs from shops selling the item.”

“All exit and entry points into the state are now completely shut. No human or vehicular movement will be allowed into the state under any disguise.”