COVID-19: Jaiz Bank Shuts Down Branch As Staff Gets Infected, Customers In Fear

There is confusion in the air as Jaiz Bank staff - in its marketing department - developed COVID-19 symptoms at the Ikeja branch of the financial organisation. The development had led to the bank announcing that it is shutting its branch for two weeks as it doesn't know the extent at which the coronavirus has spread within the banking premises.

The Jaiz Bank worker was said to have interacted with customers before the symptoms were noticed on him. It is not known how critical the condition of the worker is, but according to Jaiz Bank, the infected worker has been taken to the isolation center where treatment is being carried out on the worker.

AllNews recalls that the banks had, in the last month of the first quarter, cut down operation to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that businesses with large gatherings be shutdown. The banks remained opened due to the essence of their service - but not fully, with most workers told to stay at home.

The lockdown of businesses across Nigeria lasted for more than two months, with businesses opening gradually from May 4, 2020. Since the lockdown was eased, the confirmed cases have doubled, with Nigeria currently accounting for 20,919 confirmed cases, while 7,109 persons have been discharged, with 525 deaths recorded. The banks also opened its banking hall to customers, but for limited entry number, with compulsory hand sanitizer and nose mask. But these prevention measures seem not to be preventing the virus from entering the banks.

Customers Under Self-Quarantine

Now with Jaiz Bank recording a coronavirus case in its bank, customers have been put on alert about the situation in its Ikeja branch. Jaiz Bank informed customers who visited the brach and interfaced with the unnamed worker last week, to self-quarantine for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) approved period of 14-days. After such a period, individuals who don't develop symptoms of COVID-19 will are expected to exit self-quarantine, but customers who feel the symptoms will be relocated to the NCDC isolation center.

Jaiz Bank Staff Tested, Awaits Result

While the customers were informed to quarantine themselves, AllNews can authoritatively report that Jaiz Bank has carried out a test on its workers in the marketing departments at the Ikeja branch, as they were made to fill a form, a source told AllNews.

Meanwhile. other Jaiz Bank branches will remain open to the public, the Ikeja branch has been closed for disinfection. According to Jaiz Bank in an email, “The branch has been shut down for the safety of our customers and staff and immediate disinfection of the branch will take place to eliminate any cause for worry,”