Banks In P'Harcourt Screen Customers

FOLLOWING the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease to Port Harcourt, the
Rivers State capital, some banks have commenced the screening of their
customers for Ebola virus.

While some old generation banks only provided hand sanitisers for
their customers on Tuesday, the new generation banks used a screening
device to ascertain the temperature of those entering their branches.

At one of the generation banks located inside the state secretariat,
customers were screened before they were allowed into the banking
hall, even as workers inside the bank wore rubber gloves, ostensibly
for protection from the dreaded disease.

Fortunately, more than 40 persons screened within few minutes were
allowed to enter the banking hall because their temperature, according
to the private security personnel employed by the bank, was not above
40 degrees Celsius.

Though few of those screened initially expressed fear over the
exercise, they were, however, delighted to note that their temperature
was within the normal range.

The temperature of the customers screened as at the time The PUNCH
visited the bank ranged from 30 degrees Celsius to 36.5 degree
Celsius.

However, the private security personnel in charge of the exercise said
the exercise was targeted at preventing the further spread of the
Ebola virus.

"We are using this tool (infrared thermometer) to check their
(customers) temperature and if it is above 40 (degrees Celsius), the
person is advised to go for medical checkup. But this does not mean
they have Ebola. It may be malaria," he said.

In another new generation bank within the state secretariat, a
security personnel explained,

"Any person that wants to enter the banking hall must have his
temperature checked before he is allowed to enter.

"If it is abnormal, the person will go for medical check-up and come
back with a doctor's report before he can enter. It is just to ensure
that nobody transfers Ebola to another person in the banking hall."

PUNCH.