The Coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak at the Nigerian embassy in Mexico has forced the closure of the embassy.
The majority of the workers are sick with the illness, according to Adejare Bello, the Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, who made this announcement to newsmen on Monday.
He stated that the embassy would be shuttered for seven days and added that during that time the location would be fumigated.
Bello said: “I came back to see that most of my staff were not on the ground and it was reported to me that they tested positive for COVID-19.
“Having worked with them for one week, I saw that if we don’t take some precautions, it will continue to spread. I ordered on Friday that from today, Monday, the embassy is temporarily closed down to allow us to sanitise the environment, fumigate and for workers, those that are just getting better, to stay at home and get better.”
According to him, Mexico presently has over 100,000 active cases, thus precautions must be taken at the embassy to prevent the virus’ transmission there.
“As of today, the daily death rate from COVID-19 in Mexico is around 84,” he said.
However, Bello stated that workers would continue to work remotely while he was accessible to handle pressing matters.
“The home-based officers, that is the officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria and the local staff, are to work from home and there is a notice at the gate for urgent matters to be attended to. My officers are on ground, I’m on the ground to attend to anything that is urgent,” he explained.