COVID-19 has turned Togo's capital, Lome into a ghost city in the evenings following the President's declaration of a dawn to dusk curfew in a bid to contain the disease.
President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma during his state of the nation address Wednesday evening had stated the need for a nationwide curfew from 2000 hours to 0600 hours for three months as part of measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
"It was difficult for me but I was able to reach home by 7:53 pm, I was so lucky to avoid the rift of these soldiers, I sell mainly in the evening so I don't know what to do now, moreover, this virus is causing havocs, so we will abide by the directives, I pray Togo is free from this the pandemic soon," Kodjo Jean of Agoé told Ghana News Agency (GNA).
On Friday, Security Minister Gal Damehame Yark, said that over 5,000 security personnel had been deployed all over the country to safeguard life and property and also enforce the law.
He cautioned the citizens against insubordination and warned them against facing the wrath of the security and urged them to stay at home.
As at Friday, April 03, 2020, Togo had recorded 40 cases, three deaths, 17 recoveries, the GNA gathered.
The Government also announced a ban on commercial motor "Okada" and the use of tricycles, limiting passenger intake of cars and buses, thus Taxi drivers are only allowed to take three passengers instead of four,15 seater buses limited to nine passengers and 60 seater buses to take 30 passengers, all in observance of the social distancing.
Drivers and passengers were advised by the Health Ministry to wear a nose mask.
The Togolese Government also announced a stimulus package of 400 billion CFA francs to help households and businesses with a subsidy of 2,500 CFA francs (GHC23.75) on electricity and water.
It is the first time in the history of the small West Africa country that a state of emergency has been declared over a pandemic.
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