Oil and gas industry backs Delta to fight COVID-19 as confirmed cases rise to 51

As the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have continued to increase in Delta State, operators of the oil and gas industry have backed the state government in the fight against the virus, by way of donations.

The donated one ambulance,  a ventilator, test kits, personnel protective equipment and medical consumables.

They also handed over three buses to support the contact tracing activities in the state.

In the past two weeks, the number of confirmed cases increased from 27 to 51 while number of deaths increased from three to seven within the same period. As at Thursday, 30 patients were active with the disease while 14 had been discharged.

Commissioner for health, Ononye Mordi had blamed the spread of the disease and deaths on late testing of effected persons, a situation he said reduces their chances of survival.

The Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Companies in Nigeria, Jeff Ewing while presenting the above-mentioned items to the state government in Asaba, Thursday, commended the state’s efforts in preventing the spread of the virus.

Ewing in an address read by the Area Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Sam Daibo, said “these equipment provided by the oil and gas industry under the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), are to support the government in the fight against the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the country.”

He disclosed that Chevron companies in Nigeria contributed significantly to the equipment handed over to the state government.

“We are pleased with the leadership provided by the NNPC to coordinate the oil and gas industry response to this rapidly evolving situation; we are optimistic that our country will emerge from this pandemic stronger and more united in a tradition of care.”

Receiving the donation on behalf of government, the Secretary to the State Government, Chiedu Ebie, thanked the NNPC/Chevron for partnering with the Delta State government in the fight against Covid-19.

He disclosed that the committee in charge of containing the spread of the virus was working hard to reduce its spread and assured the donors that the ambulance, buses and other items donated would be utilised in containing the spread of Covid-19 in Delta.