The Ogun State government and the management of Lafarge Africa on Saturday said that the number of contacts of the Italian national tested positive of Coronavirus has increased from 28 to 39.

Just as the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker and medical officials In the state ministry of health paid an assessment visit to the Larfage facility in Ewekoro.

Tribune Online learnt that the driver that drove the index from Lagos to Ewekoro, the stewards that served him food and drinks had been traced.

The company's Industrial Director, Segun Soyoye, while speaking during the assessment visit by this Ogun State government team, officials from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO), explained that Italian came to Lafarge facilities in Ewekoro to inspect some installations of machines bought from a Swedish firm.

He added that the index did not go beyond the company's guest house at Ishofin estate before he was driven to Lagos having developed temperatures suggested to be one of the symptoms of coronavirus.

The Italian came for a business visit. He was in Lagos on Monday and slept at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja. Our driver took him there, and when we observed abnormal 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.

'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. Today is Day 3, they will be there for 14 days, we will continue to observe them, we have their database, showing their biodata and other information. The doctor is here and what he is doing is to check them on a regular basis, so far everybody is stable, they are not symptomatic, we are providing everything for them over there.

'The other thing that I have not said is that the clinic that was used for the infected person is closed, disinfected and we moved everybody out, all the guys at duty that day, they were also quarantined, so they will be there for 14 days as well.'

Coker in her remarks commended Lafarge Africa management for the proactive measures taken so far.

The Commissioner said that Ogun State Government had activated an Emergency Operation Committee (EOC) to manage any development that may arise from the reported case of Coronavirus, adding that the Government is currently working to contain the spread Coronavirus in the state.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan