Coronavirus
Wema Bank reacts to reported cases of COVID-19 infections at its branches
Wema Bank insisted that not more than two positive cases were confirmed.
Wema Bank Plc said it recently became aware of two active cases of COVID-19 that were reported in two separate branches across the country.
The company’s response follows an earlier report on a blog which claimed that as much as fifty employees of the bank were recently infected.
In an emailed response to Nairametrics’ enquiries, Wema Bank insisted that not more than two positive cases were confirmed. In the meantime, the affected branches have been shut down. Customers who recently visited those branches were also contacted and advised to get tested for COVID-19.
The emailed statement said in parts;
“We have received confirmation of two positive COVID-19 cases in two of our branches nationwide. The infected staff are currently being treated after only displaying mild symptoms.
“In keeping with our commitment to ensure the safety of our customers, staff and community, we have notified customers who visited those branches to get tested.
“In light of this, both branches have been shut down for immediate disinfection and will only be reopened once we certify that it is safe enough for services to resume.”
It should be noted that this is happening barely one month after banks were allowed to re-open their branches, following the COVID-19 lockdown that was imposed by the Federal Government.
The Nigerian Government had adopted the drastic lockdown measure (which lasted for approximately two months) in a bid to curtail the spread of the virus in the country. During the lockdown, banks were only allowed to operate skeletal services, even as customers were advised to shift their transactions to online channels.
Nigeria has confirmed a total of 16,085 cases of COVID-19, according to latest data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. While 5220 patients have so far been discharged, some 420 deaths have also been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Business
Lagos eases restrictions on social, event centres, sets new occupancy limit
The state government has pegged the occupancy limit for event centres in Lagos to 500 people while social events can now have 200 people at a time.
The Lagos state government has further eased restrictions on social and event centres in the state. This follows due consultations and deliberations between the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanow-Olu, and relevant stakeholders and MDAs.
The state government has pegged the occupancy limit for event centres in Lagos to 500 people while social events can now have 200 people at a time.
This disclosure is contained in a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Yusuff, and the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, on Friday, April 9, 2021.
The statement noted that safety marshals will be deployed to any social event with over 200 people and event centre exceeding the 500 limits.
READ: Lagos Govt seals Queens Park Event Centre, Oniru for contravening COVID-19 protocol
The statement partly reads, “All event centres must hold a valid license of The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture prior to operating as an event centre in the State.
“All event centres must be duly registered and verified on The Lagos State Safety Commission website www.lasgsafetyreg.com prior to holding any event.
An Event Safety Clearance must be obtained from the Lagos State Safety Commission through the website www.lasgsafetyreg.com for any proposed event or exhibition.
Safety Marshals shall be deployed by an accredited event safety consultant from Lagos State Safety Commission for every social event with attendance exceeding over 200 people.
READ: Lagos state government reacts to reopening of event centers, clarify guidelines
Occupancy limit at any event must not exceed 50% of the maximum design capacity of the hall, wherein Occupancy Limit stickers provided by the Lagos State Safety Commission must be boldly posted at the entrance of the event hall.
Maximum allowable capacity for event centres irrespective of the occupancy limit is 500 people. Deep cleaning must be carried out before and after every event. Physical distancing shall be maintained between seated guests and a maximum number of seated guests should be 6 (six) people on a table of 10 persons.
Event duration should not exceed a maximum period of 6-hours. All guests and service providers at the facility must wear a nose mask and make use of hand sanitisers All guests and service providers must endeavour to wash their hands before entering the venue or in the alternative use hand sanitisers. Temperature checks must be taken at all entry points into a facility.
Guests and service providers with temperature (above 37.5) are to be politely turned back and referred to paramedics or the emergency response team on the ground. Hand sanitizers must be positioned at the entry points and different spots within the hall.
All event centres must endeavour to display standard COVID-19 safety signs. The signs must be bold and installed at conspicuous locations. Event centre owners/ planners/vendors would be responsible for any breach of protocols by their staff.”
In case you missed it
- It can be recalled that in July 2020, the Lagos State Government had issued fresh guidelines on the reopening of event and social centres following their shutdown as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
- The state government insisted that the owners of such facilities must register with the government pending further directives.
FLASH: Lagos State Government has further eased restrictions on Social/Event centres in the State. This was disclosed today by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile Yusuff and the DG, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola.@jidesanwoolu pic.twitter.com/Ai5KVOBfKC
— Jubril A. Gawat (@Mr_JAGs) April 9, 2021
Business News
Covid-19: FG discloses why it is pausing vaccinations soon in some states
Minister of State for Health has disclosed why the FG may halt the vaccination process once 50% of the country’s proportion has been used up.
The Nigerian Government disclosed that it has ordered some states to pause their covid-19 vaccination drive once they have used up 50% of their proportions as Nigeria is not sure when it would receive the second batch of vaccines.
This was disclosed by Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on COVID-19, in Abuja on Tuesday.
What the Minister is saying
“We believe that in a situation where we still cannot specifically determine when the next batch of AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive, then I think wisdom dictates that it’s better for us to vaccinate people fully.
“And so, we can say that we have a pool of citizens that have been fully vaccinated since this vaccination comes in two doses.
READ: Nigeria, 8 other African countries receive Covid-19 vaccine from MTN
“So that’s what gave rise to that directive, rather than just going ahead with just single dose when the full dose should be two doses of the same.
“So we felt that it was proper for us in the circumstance to ensure that those who have been vaccinated have been fully vaccinated,” he disclosed.
On vaccine side effects so far
The Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed that the FG is monitoring cases of blood clots as reported in Europe, however, he asserted that Nigeria’s vaccination drive has been efficient so far.
“In Nigeria, with every vaccine, we have a parallel system to measure and to monitor any side effects,” he said.
READ: UN says 26 countries in Africa have received 15 million vaccines
“We will continue to monitor patients in Nigeria. You know, every demography is different, the demography in taking vaccines in every country is different, the interaction between different drugs people are taking. So there are many circumstances that need to be fully evaluated, we will look at the data ourselves here in Nigeria and I will take action as needed.
“So I think, for now, we can be sure that we have an effective vaccination programme going on. And we’re very responsive to the concerns of Nigerians, I will respond to them as appropriate,” he added.
What you should know: Nigeria had vaccinated 964,387 people as of Tuesday, 6th of April 2020, using up 48.0% of vaccinations, reported by the NPHCDA.
