Chevron: Why We Placed Our Employees On Supervised COVID-19 Quarantine In Delta Hotel

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/CNL Joint Venture (NNPC/CNL JV), says it placed all of its employees returning to Escravos facility in Delta state on a supervised quarantine in line with international protocol for the containment of coronavirus spread.

BIGPEN reports that following Federal Government directives for a sustained operations in the oil and gas industry and international best practices on COVID-19 protocol, all International Oil Companies (IOC) are obligated to isolate their employees returning to work for period of 14-days within which they would be tested regularly as measures to contain the spread of the virus.

An online medium (not BIGPEN) had reported that more than 100 employees of oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, suspected of having Coronavirus, are currently being secretly quarantined in a hotel in Warri, Delta State, raising fears among residents of the area.

Reacting to the report, Chevron said that none of its employees on supervised quarantine has tested positive to the virus, maintaining that they have continued to operate safely, and without any Coronavirus (COVID-19) related incident in its operations.

CNL affirms that as a responsible organization, one of the precautionary safeguards it has put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus into its operations is the introduction of a compulsory two-week supervised quarantine for all personnel returning to work at its Escravos Operations during this period of the pandemic.

CNL’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, explained that the precautionary safeguard enables CNL to provide a controlled environment for very close monitoring of the personnel during the period of the supervised quarantine.

He added that in order to make this safeguard effective, all personnel will first be required to provide a comprehensive travel history before they are placed in the supervised quarantine.

Reacting to speculations that CNL quarantined some of its staff suspected of having the Coronavirus in a hotel in Warri, Delta State, Esimaje affirmed that none of CNL’s employees has contracted the COVID-19 virus.

Giving a graphic details of the situation, he clarified that based on the Coronavirus directive issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding sustained operations in the oil and gas industry, CNL entered into arrangements with some hotels and other facilities in Warri and Lagos where their staff on rotational duties will be accommodated, and their health status monitored to ensure that they do not have the COVID-19 virus before returning to work at its Escravos Operations.

According to him, the first group of personnel scheduled for quarantine were moved to the designated facilities on Friday, April 10, 2020 and other groups will follow based on the crew change schedule and the personnel will be required to strictly maintain social distancing protocols, personal hygiene, and use of appropriate personal protective equipment during the supervised quarantine period.

“We are also working with the hotels and other facilities where the personnel will be placed, to ensure that the hotels and facilities maintain high levels of sanitation and follow strict adherence to all COVID 19 protocols,” he stated.

Esimaje declared that at the end of the two-week period, only those who are certified free of the COVID-19 virus shall be moved to Escravos and that anyone with suspected symptoms during the period will be subjected to further testing and subsequently transferred to government designated hospitals for further handling in line with the government approved protocols.

“Chevron continues to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak around the world and has been utilizing the guidance of local and international health authorities. We are regularly updating our workforce and will continue to adjust plans as appropriate as we receive more information. Our top priority is to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our workforce and their family members, and we are taking precautionary measures to reduce the risk of exposure,” he remarked.