COVID-19 Guidance for our clients and suppliers

Effective 19 March 2020

Given the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a global health pandemic, PwC Nigeria (PwC) is taking considered action to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of our people, clients, guests, suppliers and contractors. 

PwC has implemented safeguards that meet the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Nigerian Government and taken additional steps to minimise the potential impact.  These include personal hygiene practices and increased frequency of cleaning of high contact areas.

Travel:

• Domestic travel is limited to essential travel.
• We have suspended all international business travel.
• PwC people who have travelled or transited from any international location, whether for business or personal travel are required to isolate themselves at home and monitor their health for 14 days upon return.
• PwC has advised any of our people who do not feel comfortable travelling domestically at this time that they should not do so.

Meetings/Events:

• At PwC face-to-face meetings should only be held if an in-person meeting is essential. 
• All internal and external PwC hosted meetings, events and training sessions with 25 or more attendees are cancelled until further notice.
• For events still taking place (under 25 people) only:

- we have advised our people to exercise caution in meetings (good traffic flow, social distancing, no handshaking) with heightened hygiene practices.

- ensure all invited and registered guests are aware of this public statement prior to meeting.

• PwC Nigeria has in place a business continuity management system that is independently assessed and ISO certified to: ISO22301:2012, the International Standard for Business Continuity to reduce the potential impact of a pandemic event on client work.

PwC’s safeguards:

1. Clients, guests, suppliers and contractors visiting PwC offices in Nigeria
   
   The Nigerian Government advises that anyone who has travelled internationally or has come into direct contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 must isolate themselves (other than to seek medical advice) and should monitor their health for 14 days from the date of entry or contact. We ask that our clients, guests, suppliers and contractors follow this advice to ensure their own safety as well as the safety of our other clients, guests, suppliers and contractors, our people and the public. Visitors will be required to complete a form for review and approval. (Please see visitor protocol form)
   
   For PwC clients, guests, suppliers and contractors who have travelled from or transited through any international location in the last 14 days, we ask that you advise your preferred PwC contact and conduct virtual meetings (rather than in person meetings) for 14 days or cancel/defer the meeting.
   
   PwC provides hand thermometers and sanitisers in all offices to promote a healthy workplace, and we encourage visitors (and our people) to adhere to heightened hygiene practices. If you are feeling unwell when visiting our offices, please make your PwC host aware so we can support you accordingly. 
2.  Working with clients to safeguard the health and safety of our people
   
   PwC requests our clients take their own measures to respond to COVID-19, in accordance with official Government and Health guidelines.
   
   If PwC people at client sites are concerned their host client site is not taking reasonably practicable steps to proactively prevent the spread of COVID-19 so far as it is able, PwC has directed our people to speak with their team leader or engagement leader immediately.
   
   If you are an organisation with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 and PwC clients or people may be affected, we ask that you immediately contact your preferred PwC contact.
3. Clients, guests, suppliers and contractors attending external PwC hosted events 
   
   Any PwC Nigeria meetings, trainings or events with clients, guests, suppliers and contractors hosted outside our offices will be postponed however any of such gatherings with under 25 people will include the following control:

• Confirmation with host venues that they have taken reasonably practicable steps, including implementing the recommended Health guidelines to protect our clients, people and guests, so far as they are able.

We have now closed our offices and our staff are working remotely.  We will continue to monitor the situation and react accordingly.