By Sodiq Yusuf
The state government of Osun said it truly traced a COVID-19 patient to the First City Monument Bank in Osogbo.
OSUN DEFENDER had earlier reported how customers condemned the decision of the bank to shut down abruptly without any cogent reason.
The customers berated the financial institution for shutting down without prior notification or address.
A staff of the bank who was confronted by some customers stated that “A suspected COVID-19 case was said to have been traced to this bank. We were told that the said patient whose status of COVID-19 has not been confirmed came to transact business with us today.”
Confirming the report in a telephone interview, the commissioner for health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu said he was aware of the NCDC officials visit to the bank.
He added that the bank were listed among the places the patient visited which was necessary for contact tracing to ascertain the status of the bank’s staffers.
According to Isamotu, officials of the NCDC were there to take samples after a COVID-19 positive patient currently undergoing treatment at the state isolation center visited the new generation bank during the week.
He said “I know my people went to take samples in FCMB from them and that will take about 48 hours before we see the result.”
A source also told OSUN DEFENDER that in line with NCDC protocols, the facility will be decontaminated after the samples were taken.
“The bank was shut due to the fact that state officials came to take samples in the bank. This culminated in the sudden shutdown. As you know, the place has to be fumigated in line with the safety protocols. It is a norm to trace any positive patient to the places visited during the testing process and eventual confirmation to avoid further spread.”
