Coronavirus: First victim visited Ogun, 28 contacts quarantined, firm shut down in Ogun, Rivers on red alert

The first victim of the dreaded disease CORONAVIRUS in Nigeria visited Ewekoro, Ogun State.

In a swift action to contain the disease, the state government says 28 people who had contact with the Italian victim have been identified and quarantined.

The government also said the firm where the victim visited in Ewekoro has been shut down.

The state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, disclosed this, on Friday, while addressing newsmen on the update of the Coronavirus incident in the state.

Abiodun said efforts were on to identify more contacts to curb the spread of the disease.

The governor said, “The particular company in question has been practically shut down and they have set up two isolation centres within the premises.

“They have identified all those that have been in contact with this index, totalling about 28. All those 28 people have been quarantined.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Tomi Coker, said the victim, whose name was not given, fell ill in a cement company in Ewekoro, where he visited for a business engagement from Italy.

Coker while explaining how the 44-year-old Italian victim entered the state said, “In the last 12 hours, the first case of the chronic virus has been identified in Nigeria and the individual was visiting Ogun State.

“The individual is of Italian origin and he is a consultant to the Lafarge, Ewekoro factory.”

Lafarge Africa tracks all contacts of Italian coronavirus patient

Meanwhile, Lafarge Africa Plc has confirmed that it has identified all the persons who had direct contact with the visiting Italian who tested positive to Coronavirus in Nigeria.

Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, the company’s Director Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development said this in Lagos.

Ambrose-Medebem said that the company had equally initiated isolation, quarantine and disinfection protocol at Ewekoro plant.

“As a business, we have immediately identified the persons who had direct contact with the concerned individual.

“The individual concerned works for a vendor that provides services to Lafarge Africa Plc in Ogun State,” she stated.

Ambrose-Medebem commended the exemplary leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health, Ogun and Lagos State Governments for swiftly providing response and testing facilities.

She noted that the company was working fully with all the local authorities.

“Lafarge Africa is also working in close partnership with International SOS, our medical service provider, a leading global health company.

“Health and safety remain core value at Lafarge Africa and we intend to leverage this strength at this critical time,” Ambrose-Medebem added.

Recall, that, the Lagos State Ministry of Health earlier yesterday, confirmed the first case of the disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria, the first in West Africa since the outbreak in China in December.

“In the last 12 hours, the first case of the chronic virus has been identified in Nigeria and the individual was visiting Ogun State.

“The individual is of Italian origin and he is a consultant to the Lafarge, Ewekoro factory,” Lagos health ministry revealed.

To forestall the spread of the virus to Rivers State, Government of the state has placed the state on high alert.

Sequel to that, the State Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health like the National Centre for Disease Control and other stakeholders are in synergy to ensure maximum surveillance of all national entry points into the state.

Dr. Chinwe Tonye Atata, acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in a press briefing on Friday in Port Harcourt on the preparedness, said there are already established multiple layers of screening of in-flight assessment of passengers for early detection of suspected cases as well as secondary screening at Port Harcourt International Airports and other foreign entry points into the state.

She said that in line with established protocol, all international travellers from already affected countries are to be placed on self-isolation within the medically known incubation period of the virus to manifest and that within this period, such persons are closely monitored at the point of their destination.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no known case of Coronavirus in state as of now.”

She said that the state has mapped out isolation treatment centres in case of any eventuality.

In addition, the state has also set up Rapid Response Team and multisectoral technical working group, specifically dedicated for regular review and evaluation the situation in state .

She assured that the State has in stock sufficient preventive and protective equipment and supportive therapeutic drugs in case of any eventuality.

“We believe in early prevention and protection and to this end, we join the global community to advise people on regular washing of hands with soup and water, especially when hands are soiled with sweat and contact with people.

Atata cautioned citizens not to spread misinformation on Social Media on the disease, because such abuse could lead to danger and panic, assuring that the Rapid Response Team would provide routine update and necessary measures have put in place to ensure public safety.

On the absence of a substantive Commissioner and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, she said necessary structures are in place to handle the emerging viral disease.