BENIN CITY: The Edo State Government has urged stakeholders in the state’s hospitality sector to ensure compliance with the health and safety precautions rolled out to halt the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The charge was made by the Edo State COVID-19 Risk Communication Team during a meeting of the Association of Hotel Proprietors, Edo South, held in Benin City.

Health Educator, Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ESPHDA), Mrs. Irene Uabor, said the sensitisation of stakeholders was necessary to drive compliance and enforcement, noting that the state government has rolled out guidelines applicable to the hospitality sector to check the spread of COVID19.

According to her, “There’s need for all relevant stakeholders to collaborate with government to halt the spread of COVID19. We are experiencing a very concerning twist with the new wave as more children are being infected.

“There are new guidelines for the hoteliers and we want them to create a taskforce within the association to help in monitoring and compliance.”

She added that the state government enforcement team would be working with that of the hoteliers’ association to help in ensuring compliance in hotels.

“The new directive is that halls should not hold more than 30 percent of their carrying capacity and facilities must have handwash stations and other amenities to ensure compliance with the directives,” she said.