COVID-19: Bayelsa State Govt Seals Six Churches For Flouting Directive

The Bayelsa State Government has sealed six churches in the state for flouting the Coronavirus directives put in place by the state government.

The churches that were locked in different areas of Yenagoa, were identified as Living Faith Church, Salvation Victory Centre, Shalom International Christian Centre, Great Grace Distinguished Assembly, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star and Hebrews International Church.

The state government in a statement released through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Freston Akpor, noted that the churches were locked by the security sub-committee of the Bayelsa State COVID-19 Task Force during its unscheduled visits to churches on Sunday.

Recall that the Bayelsa State government on May 20 announced that churches in the state can accommodate 20 members during Sunday services, while big churches are allowed to accommodate 50 worshippers.

The government, however, warned that “churches must observe the physical distance of two metres or six feet apart for worshippers.”

It also advised that it was “compulsory for churches to provide hand sanitizers, running water and soap at their entrances, and ensure the use of face mask by all worshippers.”

Freston while speaking on the development noted that the affected churches flouted the safety measures put in place by the state government to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

He said, “The six churches were sealed (off) for failure to comply with safety measures put in place by the government to contain the spread of the pandemic and protect the people of Bayelsa.

“The churches will remain sealed until further notice to serve as a deterrent to other churches.”

The task force also unsealed two churches, the Halleluya Deliverance Ministry International and Embassy Faith, earlier shut down for violating COVID-19 safety protocols.