Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has ordered closure of all markets in the state effective from Tuesday, March 31.
According to Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, the order followed the disobedient to an earlier partial closure of markets as ways of curbing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ojogo said the partial closure of markets across the state had excluded life saving items such as food, water and medicines, but the new order would not exclude anyone as markets are to remain close until further notice.
It was learnt that the decision to order total closure of the markets was after the Inter-ministerial Committee on the control of COVID-19 presented a report to Governor Akeredolu.
At the meeting, the State Epidomologist, Dr. Stephen Fagbemi, gave reasons why the state must be on total lockdown.
He said the proximity of Ondo State to Lagos makes it an easy place for the pandemic to spread easily and partial closure of markets would not control anything because the markets were still overcrowded.