Michael Gabriel, Port Harcourt
Six members of staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission have tested positive for coronavirus.
The commission disclosed this development via its Twitter handle, explaining that the six persons were workers in the Office of the Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh.
The NDDC, however, said Ojougboh tested negative for the virus, adding that 27 others working in Ojougboh’s department also tested negative.
It advised those who tested negative to go on self-isolation.
The commission recently confirmed that its late acting Director, Finance and Administration, Ibanga Bassey Etang, tested positive for Coronavirus.
NDDC recently shut down the commission’s corporate headquarters following COVID-19 scare triggered by the death of Etang and asked all employees to isolate themselves for 14 days.
The Commission in a statement signed by its Director, Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili, confirmed that a few cases tested positive for the virus.
Odili said, “Following the directive by the Rivers State Ministry of Health that staff of the NDDC should self-isolate in view of the commission’s index case, all suspected cases have been requested to present themselves for testing, line listing and contact tracing in order to ensure public health safety.
“The commission is liaising with the Rivers State Public Health Emergency team and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, to conduct tests for Corona Virus for members of staff and their dependents.
“The testing exercise, which is ongoing, has already covered the offices of the Acting Managing Director and that of the Acting Executive Director Projects. Unfortunately, a few positive results have been recorded.
“Staff of the remaining directorates and departments have been advised to avail themselves of the opportunity of being tested at the Medical Unit of the Commission which has been fully decontaminated.
“This important exercise will commence on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, and staff should be rest assured that the COVID-19 pandemic is not a death sentence”.