Nigeria shuts UK embassy – the High Commission – upon discovery that two embassy staff have contracted the Covid-19 virus disease.
The High Commission remains closed for 10 days to sanitize and make it safe, officials said in a statement.
The mandatory 10-day closure began yesterday, 12 August 2021, the High Commission said.
One of two officials who went for a meeting at the British Home Office was found with the virus after a routine check.
“At the entrance, Covid test was administered on them and one of them tested positive to Covid-19.
“The affected officer immediately isolated while the other officials, who tested negative will also isolate for the next 10 days.
Nigeria shuts UK embassy over Covid-19 discovery
The High Commission immediately tested all other staff from where another carrier was identified.
The mission therefore decided to shut down as a precautionary measure.
IN THE NEWS
This mandatory closure also enables the Embassy observe mandatory isolation of those who had contact with infected officials.
The Commission regrets the inconvenience and asked for cooperation from customers, the statement added.
A similar scenario played out in New York when Nigeria hurriedly shut down her Consulate for 10 days in February.
The Consulate closed from Thursday 18 February “due to the number of staff who are quarantined as a result of exposure to COVID-19 at work.”
Nigeria records 753 new cases yesterday
Back in Nigeria, authorities confirmed yesterday that 753 more persons have contracted Covid-19 from 14 states.
This brings officially reported cases of the disease to 180,661. A total of 166,580 have so far survived while 2,200 unfortunately died from the disease.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also reported that five persons died from the disease yesterday 12 August.
The 753 new cases reported yesterday came from Lagos (364), Akwa Ibom (141), Oyo (74), Rivers (46), and Abia (38).
Others are Ogun (24), Kwara (20), FCT (12), Ekiti (10), Delta (9), Edo (6), Plateau (5), Imo (19), and Bayelsa(1)
Cover Photo: Sarafa Tunji Ishola, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK
Author
