BY MARY KUYE
In order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in Rivers State, its Governor Nyesom Wike has approved COVID-19 guidelines for the wedding ceremony, adding that violators would pay a fine of N10 million each.
Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, said the guidelines were approved by the state Executive Council in a meeting presided over by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
According to him, the prospective couples would be required to apply to the state governor through the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation.
He said henceforth, those seeking to bury their loved ones would also be expected to include names, addresses and phone numbers of those to attend such funerals in their applications.
Governor Wike said the government would not grant approval to any application without names, addresses and phone numbers.
He said marriages would not have more than 50 attendees including family members who must wear face masks and adhere strictly to the social distancing of not less than two meters.
According to him, while church weddings must be conducted between 9 am and 12noon, traditional marriages would be conducted between 4 pm and 7 pm.
The commissioner said venues of marriages must have provisions for running water and soap at three points and the venue decontaminated after the event.
Wike said after wedding receptions were prohibited under the guidelines to reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19.
He said: “All Weddings/Marriages have an attendance limit of 50 people. The names, addresses and phone number of all attendees have made available with the application to enable quick contact tracing if the need arises.
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“Soap and running water have to be kept at the entrance to the venue in not less than three places while all attendees are to wear face masks and maintain social distancing of not less than two meters.
“Church weddings are to be conducted between 9 am and 12noon, while traditional weddings are to be conducted between 4 pm and 7 pm. Reception ceremonies are not permitted.
“A representative of the Ministry would be present to observe the event. A fine of N10,000,000 is to be paid by anyone that puts people at risk by breaking this regulation”
