The Ogun State Government and Lafarge Africa have confirmed that contacts in respect of the recorded single case of Coronavirus disease has risen to 39 from the initial reported 28.
These include the driver who picked the infected Italian from a hotel in Ikeja and those who served him food and drink.
Contrary to reports making the round in the media that the production lines of Lafarge Africa PLC, Ewekoro have been closed following the visit of the Coronavirus-infected Italian to the company’s guest house, the management of Lafarge and Ogun State Government have debunked the closure of the cement production lines.
The Ogun Government and Lafarge Africa confirmed this development at the Lafarge facility during an on-the-spot-assessment by the host State Government, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, World Health Organisation, WHO teams and the Industrial Director of Lafarge plc.
The Ogun Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, commended Lafarge Africa for the quick and proactive measures taken so far.
She noted that it was imperative for the state and federal governments to swing into action to contain the spread of the deadly disease.
The Commissioner said that the State Government had activated an Emergency Operation Committee to manage any development that may arise from the reported cases of Coronavirus.
“We are on top of the situation. There is no cause for alarm. Our health educators are busy with advocacy efforts on the field. We are sensitising our health officers too on preventive measures to adopt.
“We have all the required interventions to contain the situation. Members of the public should remain calm,” the commissioner said.
On its part, the cement company said that its production lines were not shut as the guest house where the Italian was lodged is 5km to the manufacturing plants in Ewekoro.
The Industrial Director, Lafarge Plc, Segun Soyoye, said the Italian came to Lafarge facilities at Ewekoro to inspect some installations of machines bought from a Swedish firm.
Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak hits Nigeria’s crude oil sales
Soyoye added that the Italian did not go behind Lafarge guest house at Ishofin Estate before he was evacuated having developed abnormal temperatures that suggested he had been infected with Coronavirus.
“The Italian came for a business visit. He was in Lagos on Monday and slept at Airport Hotel, Ikeja. Our driver took him there, and when we observed abrnomal temperatures and symptoms, we quickly instituted an Emergency Response Team which is led by the Company CEO; we have to find a way of analysing and identifying not only the Italian but also the other contacts.
Also, Ibrahim Mamadu, the Team Leader of WHO Nigeria, also commended the internal processes undertaken so far by Lafarge Africa to contain the deadly disease.
