COVID-19
Australian anti-lockdown protesters receive backlash
Australia Medical community representatives on Monday, accused protesters who broke the law of social distancing restrictions, of jeopardising an early relaxing of restrictions. Hundreds of demonstrators hit the streets in the state of Victoria on Sunday, calling for an end to the lockdown. However, Head of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Tony Bartone, told ‘The Today Show’ that the protesters, in fact, risked prolonging social distancing laws by potentially spreading the disease, describing it as an “incredibly disappointing”, and “bizarre” incident. “By that grouping of those protests over the weekend, we just need one person to be positive and spread the virus, and then we’re on the backward step already,’’ Bartone said. “If we have to isolate again and (implement) those measures...
A Future Reimagined for Africa Post-Pandemic
Sourced from Redbubble and iStock. In a rare television broadcast Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, described the COVID-19 pandemic as “Germany’s biggest challenge since the Second World War”. It has indeed proved to be a crisis of global proportion with material implications for the economies and livelihoods of all. Governments across the globe have locked down cities, towns, villages and townships to curb the spread of the virus. Massive fiscal stimuli have been enacted to cushion the economic and humanitarian impact of the pandemic. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have set aside a large quantum of emergency financial support for countries to tap into. African countries have implemented strong containment measures to avoid further spread of COVID-19. For countries in W...
UCH Ibadan records new coronavirus case among surgical staff
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has recorded a new COVID-19 case within its surgical services unit. The hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, disclosed this via his official Twitter handle @UchCmd. “One case of COVID-19 has been confirmed among the staff of the hospital’s surgical services. “The member of staff in question is in good health and is receiving necessary support, while the routine contact tracing and relevant infection control protocols have been instituted. “Consequently, as at 4 pm. Friday, 8th May 2020, we had one new confirmed case of COVID-19,” he wrote. According to him, the new case brings the total number of patients treated for COVID-19 in the hospital to 11. “The total number of COVID-19 patients that the hospital has attended ...
SMBLF asks Nigerian government to declare ‘invasion’ of South, Middle-Belt by Almajiris illegal
Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called on the Federal Government to publicly declare the invasion of the South and Middle-Belt by teenagers, including Almajiris from far North, in spite of the ban on interstate movements imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari as illegal and direct the security agencies to immediately flush them out and ensure that they do not return. SMBLF made these demands on Sunday in a joint statement signed by Chief E K Clark for PANDEF, Chief Ayo Adebanjo on behalf of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief John Nnia Nwodo (Ohaneze) and Dr Bitrus Pogu (Middle- Belt Forum). The group, while making the demands, expressed outrage at what it termed complacency on the part of Nigerian security forces at the invasion of their areas by teena...
Nigeria records 248 new coronavirus cases, total now 4,399
Nigeria has reported 248 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the total number of infections in the country to 4399 cases. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirmed the new cases in a tweet on Sunday night. “248 new cases of #COVID19; 81-Lagos 35-Jigawa 26-Borno 26-Kano 20-Bauchi 13-FCT 12-Edo 10-Sokoto 7-Zamfara 4-Kwara 4-Kebbi 2-Gombe 2-Taraba 2-Ogun 2-Ekiti 1-Osun 1-Bayelsa “4399 cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria, Discharged: 778 Deaths: 143″ 248 new cases of #COVID19; 81-Lagos35-Jigawa26-Borno26-Kano20-Bauchi13-FCT12-Edo10-Sokoto7-Zamfara4-Kwara4-Kebbi2-Gombe2-Taraba2-Ogun2-Ekiti1-Osun1-Bayelsa 4399 cases of #COVID19 in NigeriaDischarged: 778Deaths: 143 pic.twitter.com/EXkXbq690g — NCDC (@NCDCgov) May 10, 2020 Get more stories like this on Twitter
Kano evacuates 1, 213 almajiris to their home state
Kano State Government on Sunday said no fewer than 1, 213 Almajiris have been evacuated to their state of origin. Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, Chairman, Kano State Almajiri Evacuation Committee told newsmen in Kano that “due process and proper screening are the hallmark of the ongoing evacuation exercise.” Garo who is also the Commissioner for Local government revealed that the Committee worked with the state Ministry of Health to ensure that Almajiris taken out of Kano to their respective states of origin are in good health. He said Kano has so far, received over 200 Almajiris returnees from Kaduna, Plateau and Niger states respectively. Garo stressed ‘as I speak to you, they are being quarantined in Kiru Reformatory Institute, where they are being provided with free feeding and medication b...
Abuja hotel says no space to lodge Nigerian returnees
The management of one of the hotels designated as accommodation for evacuated Nigerians from abroad in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic has denied being part of the arrangement. Last week in Abuja, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, listed Chida International Hotel, Bolingo, Apo Apartments, Royalty, Belvior and Barcelona Hotels, as designated accommodations for quarantine purposes. However, on Sunday, the management of Chida International Hotel, Abuja, said it was not part of the arrangement due to the non-availability of space. “It is pertinent to state that at present, Chida International, Abuja, is not part of the arrangement to accommodate evacuated Nigerians from abroad, though we were contacted by the ministry but could not proceed with the plan becau...
Delta governor warns violators of inter-state lockdown
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has warned unauthorized vehicles entering the state will be impounded while the operators will be made to face the wrath of the enabling laws. President Muhammadu Buhari had declared inter-state lockdown across the country to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Okowa handed down the warning while monitoring the level of compliance at some boundaries between Delta and neighbouring states of Edo and Anambra. The governor was at the River Niger Bridge which borders Delta and Anambra and Alifekede, the boundary between Delta and Edo. He expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance but was quick to remind security agents and members of the state’s COVID-19 task force at the boundaries that only vehicles carrying agricultural products and those on esse...
Edo screens 104,186 persons for coronavirus, discharges one, contact traces 689 others
The Edo State Government, as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has ramped up ongoing screening and testing exercise across the state’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), screening over 104,186 persons, testing about 704 residents and contact tracing over 689 others who have had various degrees of contacts with confirmed cases. Commissioner for Health, Dr Patrick Okundia, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, also announced the discharge of one more COVID-19 patient, who has tested negative twice for the virus and cleared from the state’s isolation centres. According to him, the new discharge brings the number of patients successfully managed and discharged from the state’s isolation facilities to 13. Okundia, however, reassured that the remaining cas...
Another Premier League player tests positive for novel coronavirus
A third first-team player from Brighton & Hove Albion tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, the Premier League club’s chief executive Paul Barber has confirmed. Two Brighton players had contracted the novel coronavirus in March and April and the latest positive result could cast doubts on the Premier League’s plans to resume the season that has been suspended due to the pandemic. Clubs are due to meet on Monday to further discuss “Project Restart” which envisages a return to play in June once given the green light from government, with the remaining 92 matches held behind closed doors at neutral venues. “It is a concern. Unfortunately we’ve had a third player test positive yesterday,” Barber told Sky Sports on Sunday. “So despite all of the measures that we’ve been taking over the ...
Post-coronavirus economy will be tech driven – Kwara governor
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Saturday said that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the country to come to terms with the reality of migrating to a full IT driven economy. The governor made the call when he joined the government-backed virtual digital training for youths in the state amid a call on participants to compete to evolve with homegrown technological solutions to local problems. At least 3,195 young people are involved in the digital training which is supported by the Grow with Google and Wootlab Foundation. Called K-Power, the initiative is a component of the four-layer state social investment programme. AbdulRazaq said the lockdown arising from the COVID-19 pandemic again confirmed that the country must come to term with deploying technology in all facets of life...
Nigeria: 10 die of coronavirus in Kano, Ogun, three other states
No fewer than seven patients died of coronavirus-related complications in Kano and Ogun states on Friday. Three other patients also died of COVID-19 in Bauchi, Kaduna and Sokoto. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known in its 70th Situation Report on COVID-19 published on Saturday. According to the report, 10 COVID-19 fatalities were recorded in the country as of 11.30 pm on Friday. The 10 new COVID-19 fatalities bring the total deaths recorded in the country to 117. Of the 117 fatalities, 33 died in Lagos, Kano, 18; FCT, four; Borno, 14; Katsina, eight; Bauchi, one; Ogun, four; Kaduna, two; Sokoto, nine; Jigawa, one; Edo, four; Zamfara, three; Oyo, two; Osun, four; Nasarawa, one; Rivers, two; Delta, three; Akwa Ibom, two; Yobe, one and Ekiti one. Part of the report read, “3...
