TheNewsGuru

Tag: Coronavirus

  • Ex-Presidential aide speaks to FG on COVID-19 after recovering from infection

    Ex-Presidential aide speaks to FG on COVID-19 after recovering from infection

    One month after recovering from the dreadful Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), former presidential aide, Dr Doyin Okupe has said the government needs to treat health workers better and employ more hands and temporary staff to reach out and manage patients on self isolation and in special outpatient clinics.

    Okupe, who himself and his wife were discharged after testing negative twice for the virus in May, gave the advice on Sunday, while stressing that public awareness and education about the COVID-19 pandemic need to be intensified.

    “Shall we worry about COVID-19 rapidly rising figures? Yes and no! Number of affected cases is determined by the prevalence of infection in the community and the number of tests carried out. If the prevalence remains constant but number of tests carried out in the community increases then figures of affected persons definitely will increase and so also number of new cases.

    “This scenario is likely to be what is happening now in this communal stage of the pandemic. Secondly the number of deaths have consistently hovered between 2 – 3% which conforms with the global average & expected fatality of the infection.

    “Without gainsaying, the incidence will be on the rise. Perhaps what needs to be done is to seriously canvass for the elderly and people with existing illnesses to self impose movement limitations on themselves and take active steps to boost their immunity.

    “Empirical evidence continue to confirm that within the youths, 25yrs to 40-45yrs, who constitute a clear majority of the affected persons, fatality is significantly low and recovery is very fast and high in numbers.

    In some cases the course of illness is transient.

    “We will need to stop admitting asymptomatic patients into isolation centres but rather treat, monitor and attend to them in Special OUT PATIENTS CLINICS.

    “We then attend to more serious and co morbidity cases at our isolation centres.The obvious truth is that more and more members will catch the infections and will recover fully some with treatments others without.

    “Ultimately we will develop Herd immunity and just live with this illness while we move on with our lives.

    “Government need to treat health workers better. Employ more hands and temporary staffs to reach out & manage patients on self isolation and in special outpatient clinics. Public awareness & education need to be intensified.

    “There is light at the end of this Tunnel,” Okupe submitted.

  • Mexico surpasses France in coronavirus death toll

    Mexico surpasses France in coronavirus death toll

    Mexico reported 523 more coronavirus deaths on Saturday, pushing its tally to 30,366, overtaking France to become the fifth-highest in the world.

    The health ministry also reported 6,914 new infections and a total of 252,165 confirmed cases.

    Deputy Health Minister Hugo Gatell reiterated that the actual number of infected was probably significantly higher.

    “We knew from the beginning that the cases we report here do not represent the total number of people with COVID-19 in Mexico,” he told a regular news conference.

    “Neither Mexico nor any other country in the world aims to make an exhaustive count.”

    Citing unpublished figures from the civil registry, broadcaster Milenio said that by June 19 almost twice as many people had died from the virus as reported by Gatell.

    Reuters was unable to immediately verify the information.

  • JUST IN: Ikpeazu beats coronavirus weeks after testing positive

    JUST IN: Ikpeazu beats coronavirus weeks after testing positive

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has recovered from coronavirus.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the governor’s sample submitted on June 4th, 2020 had returned positive and he immediately went into isolation.

    However, on Saturday, the state’s Commissioner for Information, John Kalu, said the governor’s samples submitted on Thursday returned negative on Friday.

    He wrote, “To the glory of God, repeat COVID-19 test conducted by Nigeria Center for Disease Control on samples submitted by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Thursday, 2nd July 2020, returned negative result on Friday, 3rd July, 2020.

    “Governor Ikpeazu is therefore deemed free of the virus according to the extant guidelines of NCDC and the World Health Organisation.”

    Meanwhile, as of Friday, Abia recorded 382 infections including 207 recoveries and three associated deaths.

  • BREAKING: Another popular pastor dies of COVID-19 in Delta

    BREAKING: Another popular pastor dies of COVID-19 in Delta

    Pastor (Dr.) Richmond Leigh, the Senior Pastor and Founder of Richmond Sisan Leigh Ministries, also known as Father’s House Bible Church, is dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Pastor Leigh was said to have died at an undisclosed hospital in Warri on Friday after contracting the dreadful Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    Recall that Pastor Wilson Okotie, Senior Pastor, High Impact Christian Centre had also died as a result of the COVID-19.

    Also recall that the second case of the COVID-19 in the State, who was announced to have died from the pandemic before arrival at a treatment facility in the State, was a 57-year-old Pastor (name withheld).

    Meanwhile, Pastor Leigh was said to be briefly sick, and was immediately rushed to the undisclosed hospital on Wednesday when his health became more critical.

    It was gathered that Leigh had warned members of his congregation that Coronavirus is real, urging them to strictly adhere to the relevant health protocols.

    TNG reports the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday confirmed 16 cases of COVID-19 for Delta, bringing the total number of confirmed cases for the State to 1,165.

  • UCTH confirms 5 COVID-19 positive cases in Calabar

    UCTH confirms 5 COVID-19 positive cases in Calabar

    The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has confirmed five positive cases of COVID-19 in the state.

    The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, made this known in an internal memo pasted on all the notice boards in the hospital on Friday in Calabar.

    “The management of UCTH wishes to inform her staff and patients that COVID-19 tests performed on five samples from our hospital returned positive.

    “Two of these samples came from our medical staff. This staff members have since made tremendous progress along the path of recovery and are doing well.

    “The tests were performed using the PCR technique at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control accredited laboratory located at Alex Ekweme University Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki.

    “Management has duly informed the Cross River Government and other agencies of government.

    “We wish to reassure our staff and patients that a positive COVID-19 test is neither a death sentence nor a reason for any fear or stigmatisation,” Ikpeme said in the memo.

    The chief medical director, also in the memo, urged all staff of the hospital to abide by all guidelines on handwashing and respiratory hygiene as advised by the State and Federal Governments.

    “As an institution of government, UCTH will continue to provide information and guidance, and take steps to protect our staff, patients and the community we serve.

    “We, therefore, urge everyone to take personal responsibility and cooperate with the government and institutions in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, especially with the relaxation of the lockdown which can potentially translate into an increase in the number of cases.

    “Management thanks the Federal Ministry of Health, the Cross River Government and Ministry of Health, her staff and patients for demonstrating commitment and leadership during a difficult time,” the memo added.

  • Ex-US presidential candidate contracts COVID-19 after attending Trump’s rally

    Ex-US presidential candidate contracts COVID-19 after attending Trump’s rally

    Former US Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has contracted COVID-19, two weeks after attending Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

    Cain has now been hospitalised in Atlanta, after developing symptoms.

    According to a statement on his Twitter page, Cain “spent the past night in the hospital and as of today, Thursday, July 2, he is resting comfortably in an Atlanta-area hospital.

    ” Mr. Cain did not require a respirator, and he is awake and alert.”

    The 74 year-old Cain contested for the Republican ticket in 2012.

    Read his tweet:

  • Again, ASUU kicks against re-opening of schools

    Again, ASUU kicks against re-opening of schools

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Thursday, implored the Federal Government to reconsider its decision on the proposed reopening of schools nationwide.

    The union expressed this concern amidst the increasing cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the country.

    Dr Dipo Akomolafe, the ASUU Chairman, of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, made the appeal in an interview on Thursday.

    According to him, the reopening of the schools was likely to make more children and teachers vulnerable to the disease.

    Mr Boss Mustapha, the Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, had on June 29, announced the reopening of schools in a yet-to-be decided date for all pupils and students in the graduating classes.

    He said this was to enable such students prepare for their examinations.

    According to Akomolafe, most of the schools cannot meet up with the guidelines put in place for the reopening.

    He added that most of the pupils and students would want to embrace themselves, shake hands and ignore the use of face masks and social distancing.

    The don added that reopening of schools at this time, would also increase teachers responsibilities, as they would be left to handle their teaching jobs, as well as also monitor the students, to ensure adherence to precautionary measures.

    He further noted that, reopening the schools at this crucial time with the daily increase of the disease, was like making more children and teachers vunerable.

    “The Federal Government gave guidelines for reopening of schools recently, but how many of these schools can oblige to these guidelines?

    “Children may find it difficult to use the face masks, they cannot do without embracing themselves, shake hands with themselves and play together, all of which is against social distancing.

    “Teachers will also be charged with additional responsibilities of teaching, as well as monitoring the children to comply with the precautionary measures against the virus.

    “We are, therefore, calling on the Federal Government to reconsider its decisions on the matter, so that more alarming figures of casualties will not be recorded,” Akomolafe told NAN.

    The don, however, urged parents to enlighten their children more on the pandemic and ensure that schools complied with government’s guidelines before releasing their children for schools, should government insist on the reopening.

  • Havana lifts quarantine as Cuba recovers from pandemic

    Havana lifts quarantine as Cuba recovers from pandemic

    The Cuban Government said that quarantine measures in the capital Cuba would be lifted and the rest of the country would move the second phase of reopening as the coronavirus outbreak wanes.

    Phase one of reopening will see public transport, services and trade gradually resuming, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said in televised comments.

    Citizens will have to wear face masks and observe social distancing in public spaces.

    In the second phase, the use of masks will be required wherever there is a large number of people in a small space.

    People with respiratory problems will not be given access to the workplace.

    As of Wednesday, Cuba reported a total of 2,348 confirmed cases of COVID-19, while 2,218 people have so far recovered with 86 deaths.

    Cuban authorities are considering the spread of the virus under control.

    Marrero said that, aside from Matanzas, some 90 kilometres east of Havana, all other 14 provinces will start to move towards phase two of the reopening plan, starting on Friday.

    Havana, the capital of two million people where the new cases have been concentrated, was the only territory that went into total quarantine.

    The announcement came as international tourism to the country was reintroduced though foreign visitors will have to travel on charter flights directly to beach hotels in the north of the country without having contact with the local population.

    The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic also reopened their borders on Wednesday, making it possible for tourists to access hotels and beaches in limited numbers and under hygienic safety measures.

    Three months of coronavirus restrictions have battered the economy of the Caribbean region, where tourism is a key source of income.

  • BREAKING: Okowa, wife test positive for Coronavirus

    BREAKING: Okowa, wife test positive for Coronavirus

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, Edith on Wednesday tested positive to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    The development is sequel to tests conducted on them after a few days of self-isolation, which they went into on Friday after one of their daughters tested positive to the virus.

    The two heads of the First Family in the State, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, are stable and have commenced necessary treatment, and further isolation.

    The Governor thanked Deltans for their prayers for his family, and called for continued supplications for all patients undergoing treatment for the pandemic.

    He assured that his administration would not relent in its efforts at combating the virus in the State, and urged the public to support the government in that regard by complying with prescribed protocols by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    Okowa reiterated that “COVID-19 is real. The rate is increasing in our state and the virus is taking the lives of some of our people. I, therefore, again call on every Deltan to observe the protocols on the virus while in public, to curb further spread of the virus, especially in the communities”.

  • COVID-19 spreads to 21 LGAs in Delta State

    COVID-19 spreads to 21 LGAs in Delta State

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has conducted a total of 2546 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests in Delta State as the virus spreads to 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Delta has achieved 98% contact tracing success from the 912 confirmed cases of the 2546 COVID-19 test conducted.

    According to an infographic shared by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Monday, the State has received a total of 8517 calls to its toll free COVID-19 numbers.

    A breakdown of the spread of the virus in the State showed that Oshimili South with 234 confirmed COVID-19 cases is the epicentre of the virus.

    The virus is now present in Aniocha South, Bomadi Burutu, Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Ika North East, Ika South, Isoko South, Isoko North, Ndokwa East, and Ndokwa West LGAs.

    Other LGAs are Okpe, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Sapele, Udu, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Ukwani, Uvwie, and Warri South.

    As at 11:55 pm of Sunday 28th June 2020, there are 912 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Delta.

    COVID-19 spreads to 21 LGAs in Delta State