Anambra State House of Assembly, Southeast Nigeria, has suspended legislate activities for one month and the members asked to go into isolation after many tested positive for COVID-19.
The development followed the compulsory COVID-19 test which the lawmakers took on Thursday.
The Speaker, Uche Okafor, who announced the decision to shut the assembly at an emergency plenary sitting on Monday, said the action became imperative after most of the test results turned out to be positive.
Okafor said the shutting down of the legislative complex would enable the Ministry of Health to fumigate the environment and carry out contact tracing of those who were positive.
He advised those who needed to isolate in view of their test results to do so and blamed the spread of COVID-19 in the state on poor adherence to protective protocols and year-end festivities.
Okafor said last year, the assembly set up a COVID-19 team which toured the 21 local government areas of the state in support of measures by the governor against the spread of the virus infection.
“We also passed a bill which gave legal backing to the policies of the governor and it was a success. Coming back this January, we were faced with the second wave which they said was more dangerous and more contagious.
“Sadly, we became complacent about those protocols and the festive period of Christmas and New Year increased the spread of the virus in the state.
“Recall that last Thursday, samples were taken, unfortunately when the results (came), some were negative but many were positive,
“As an institution that has the responsibility of effective representation, we have decided that this complex be shut to enable the executive fumigate the complex and do contact tracing on the positive members.
“Members are advised to please isolate themselves, those that need to quarantine should also do so, during the period there will be no plenary and no committee,” he said.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control data shows that Anambra State has recorded 720 positive cases with 20 deaths, 366 persons still in admission and 334 successfully treated and discharged.
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