Dave Umahi, Ebonyi State governor, has restricted church services to two hours, following the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state. 

The governor made the announcement on Friday.

He said all large gatherings are also banned in the state.

Umahi also directed the deputy governor, Kelechi Igwe, and the State COVID-19 team, to ensure massive sensitization and public enlightenment campaign, to get the people to embrace COVID-19 protocols.

 “We must go back to observe all the protocols of COVID-19 enunciated by the Presidential Taskforce. I have directed that Church Services should not last more than 2 hours. I have also directed that we should step up our testing before the end of January.

“We must have to accomplish the target of the Presidential Taskforce by testing at least 450 persons per Local Government. I have suspended large gathering of people in Ebonyi State. We have returned to the wearing of facemasks in all public places and in our homes.

“During this Christmas, I am appealing that we curtail our movements. The initial night of praise will no longer hold in the state, the usual end of year party will not hold rather we are not aggregated so that we have smaller gathering that we can control”, he said