Osun-Osogbo Festival: Participants Utterly Disregard PTF COVID-19 Protocols (Pics)

The grand finale of the annual Osun-Osogbo festival ended on Friday with the breach of PTF COVID-19 protocols by the participants at this year international festival in Osogbo, capital of Osun state, VOICE AIR MEDIA reports.

Recalled VOICE AIR MEDIA reported that the state government through the commissioner for culture and tourism, Dr Adebisi Obawale had on Tuesday announced a ban on social activities and gatherings at the Osun-Osogbo festival and restricted visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage site to worshippers only.

The state government, however, approved the observance of traditional rites and routines associated with the festival (in strict compliance with COVID-19 guidelines) and that only authorised persons and worshippers were allowed into the Grove.

Our correspondent who visited the venue of the festival, said at the entrance showed the participants disregarding precautionary measures for COVID-19 prevention.

Observers noted that participants failed to obey the order by the state government of Osun and not adhered to COVID-19 protocols such as the wear(ing) of facemasks and the observance of social distancing.

Recall the presidential task force on COVID-19 on Thursday, 18th June, 2020 at the 44th joint national briefing of the committee in Abuja, decried the continuous flouting of guidelines by some members of the public in spite of the rising cases of Coronavirus infection in the country.

However, at the Grove on Friday, the Governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, represented by the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Obawale Adebisi, pleaded with the worshippers and Osogbo monarch, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, to bear with the state, assuring that next year’s celebration would bring more tourists.

– VAM