The outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has sparked fears among residents in Edo state.
This is because there is hardly any home in Benin City and environs that does not have a relative in Italy or other European countries.
There is also weekly influx of goods to the state from Italy.
Italy is, perhaps, the first destination of choice for any young lady seeking to travel abroad or being trafficked.
Some persons, who spoke after report of an Italian testing positive to coronavirus in Lagos state, said they have contacted their loved ones to ensure they were safe.
Meanwhile, the state government has stated that it had begun various activities to stop coronavirus from spreading to the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia, told journalists in Benin City, the state capital, that a team had been deployed to the Benin airport to get information on the manifest of the airline that brought the Italian into the country.
He said it had also sensitised staff at the airport on the screening modalities of air travellers as well as creating awareness for the public on the new coronavirus.
Okundia said further that health care workers across all health facilities in the 18 local government areas had been sensitised while “surveillance officers have been placed on red alert to carry out active case search in all health facilities at all entry points.”
