The driver who picked the Italian infected with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) from a hotel in Ikeja, Lagos has been quarantined in Ogun.
The state government and Lafarge Africa both confirmed that the number of people who had contacts with the Italian has hit 39 from the initial reported 28.
Others quarantined are those who served him food and drink.
Ogun State Government and Lafarge also debunked closure of the cement production lines following the Italian’s visit last week.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) teams and the Industrial Director of Lafarge plc have visited the facility.
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 (EOC) 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.
The cement manufacturer said 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.
Mr 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 Covid-19.
“The contacts are now 39 and we have quarantined them, the house and clinic as well as the vehicles. We don’t take chances that is why they are put there,” he said.
