The COVID-19 scare rocking the First Bank of Nigeria Limited degenerated on Tuesday as the financial institution announced that one of its staff at a branch in Marina, Lagos, Nigeria, has tested positive for the dreaded infection .
This came barely 54 days after the bank mourned a staff at its main branches in Kano, northern Nigeria’s commercial hub, Abdullahi Lawal.
All over 24 members of staff at the Marina branch have been asked to go on self-isolation and get tested, while the branch and its entire vicinity have been thoroughly disinfected, the Bank said in a statement.
“We have just confirmed that one of our staff working in FirstBank, Marina branch has tested positive to COVID-19 on 15 June 2020.
“In line with our COVID-19 emergency response plan, we have immediately activated our established incident management protocols. These include asking all staff of the branch to go on self-isolation and get tested.
“In addition, we immediately swung to action and have thoroughly disinfected the branch and the entire vicinity overnight,” the statement read.
The lender, while reiterating its commitment to the safety of its staff, customers, and host communities, however, disclosed that a fresh team have been deployed to the branch with brand new personal protection kits and equipment.
“We have brought in a fresh team of our staff who have been given brand new personal protection kits and equipment to work with therefore, ensuring that there is no risk to any staff working out of the branch or any customer who chooses to bank with us at the same branch.
“Staff of the branch, whose tests are ongoing now, will not be returning to work until they are medically certified.
“The impact of COVID-19 has become the new norm and as we learn to live and deal with it. Swift, effective and decisive response in dealing with the challenges as they arise to ensure minimal disruption to service is critical as our new reality,” the statement added.
This came barely 54 days after the bank mourned a staff in one of it branches in Kano.
The bank had in a statement issued in April 25 “mourns as we confirm the loss of our staff, Abdullahi Lawal who until his passing worked at our Kano Main Branch.”
The statement read; “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time as we do all that is necessary to support them. We ask that all necessary courtesies be extended to the family so they can grieve privately.
“As a responsible corporate organization, FirstBank has been at the fore-front of the concerted efforts against the coronavirus pandemic alongside others.
“We have robust protocols in place including practicing social distancing, frequently disinfecting our buildings and locations even whilst ensuring services are available through our alternative channels such as our ATMs and other digital platforms.
“We have immediately therefore, shut down access to the premises as we disinfect the entire location and ask all staff and customers who may have been in contact with our late colleague to follow the NCDC guidelines and self-isolate. We will, as a matter of course, extend all possible support to staff and customers at this difficult time.”
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