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Tag: Coronavirus

  • ASUU President states position on reopening of schools

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday kicked against the reopening of schools by the Federal Government due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging the country.

    Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU National President, who spoke in Ota, Ogun State, said, the Federal Government needed to address the challenges of education sector before it can talk of reopening schools.

    He urged the Federal Government to provide ideal environment and should take the lead by meeting the conditions spelt out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before reopening schools.

    “The Federal Government must lead and show the ways by meeting the conditions for reopening of schools before any school can be allowed to open, because COVID-19 pandemic is a health challenge.

    “When it comes to public health, it is something that should not be left in the hands of individual, but the Federal Government must take the lead,’’ he told NAN.

    The ASUU president listed the conditions spelt out by NCDC to include: provision of materials for regular washing of hands, face mask, isolations centres, space for social distancing and hands sanitiser.

    Ogunyemi said that many of the schools do not have financial capacities to meet those conditions and requirements for reopening of schools.

    “It is suicidal to reopen schools now, if the Federal Government itself could not meet the conditions spelt out by NCDC and World Health Organisation (WHO).

    “The nation will expose the innocent children to risks which is avoidable,” he said.

    Ogunyemi noted that how many of these schools could afford to provide hand sanitiser, saying that many of them do not even have running water, not to talk of having facility for washing hands.

    He added that many schools do not have enough spaces to promote physical distancing.

    The ASUU president said that putting all these requirements needed together, to reopen schools in the country now would run to millions of Naira, which most schools could not afford.

    Ogunyemi appealed to the Federal Government to provide the running funds for the principals and head teachers so that they could provide some of these facilities in their schools.

    He further said that inadequate funds by many parents would hinder them from providing some of these amenities needed for reopening of schools.

    Ogunyemi said that the Federal Government needed to tell Nigerians the steps they intended to take in reopening schools.

    The ASUU leader said that for government not to tell people their minds was like running away from “our shadow” which would later hunt the country.

  • Africa records new COVID-19 high

    Africa records new COVID-19 high

    The World Health Organisation (WHO), Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says there are over 380,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on African continent.

    The UN’s health agency gave the update in its regional official Twitter account @WHOAFRO on Monday.

    “There are over 380,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – with more than 181, 000 recoveries and 9,500 deaths,’’ it said.

    The figures show that South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, have the highest reported cases in the continent.

    According to the report, South Africa has 138,134 cases and 2,456 deaths, followed by Nigeria with 24, 567 confirmed cases and 567 deaths, while Ghana has 17, 351 confirmed cases and 112 deaths.

    The report said that Lesotho, Gambia and Seychelles were countries currently with the lowest confirmed cases in the region.

    It said that Lesotho had 27 confirmed cases with zero death.

    Gambia had 45 reported cases and two deaths, while Seychelles had 77 reported cases with no death.

  • ‘Coro no dey’ – Hope Eghagha

    By Hope Eghagha

    I had cause to visit Shoprite in Surulere last Saturday. At the entrance attendants were dutifully checking temperature levels of customers. Most customers at the gate had their masks on. All kinds of masks. Some were partially slung across the face, covering only the mouth. It was when I went further in, facing the conveniences that I encountered a group of ten young men and a few ladies playing a game of snooker. I noticed that not even one of them had the face mask on. I engaged one of the guys to the hearing of others why he did not bother to wear the mask.

    ‘Coro no dey’, he said. I said: ‘Coro dey o. I’ve lost two known persons to the virus in Lagos in the last three weeks’, I told him. ‘That na lie! Na malaria kill them. How you take know say na coro? ‘We did a test and confirmed it’. ‘Abegi, government uses coro to chop money’. ‘Oga, you wear mask cover your mouth; why our president no dey wear mask’? I gave up and shook my head in disbelief. The previous Monday, I had driven to the popular Oyingbo Market just to look around and possibly buy some fruits. We drove slowly through the main market road. About ninety-five percent of the people in the market did not wear a mask. It was so surreal. Are we on different planets, in different worlds?

    Why is there widespread scepticism about COVID-19 in Nigeria? What gave birth to the belief that the government simply wants to ‘chop’ money that is why they created talk about ‘coro? Why is government at different levels not enforcing use of the mask? What is the effect of this nonchalance on the spread of the virus through community infections? Have we addressed the issue of persons (asthmatics for example) who react when they use the mask? If we allow marketplaces to function without any control why have we banned opening religious centres where we can relatively control or enforce mask use and social distancing? Why did the management allow a group of men and women without masks into the facility?

    COVID-19 is real. My scientific reasoning convinces me that it is a fact. The details of the how and why may not be clear now even to experts. But that there is a virus or an infection killing people across the land is not to be disputed. There are some myths about it. That it cannot kill many Africans because of our hot weather. That COVID-19 is for the rich and powerful, the elite. That it affects only the elderly if it exists. That we do not really know anybody who has died from it. That COVID-19 is part of end time activity that will make the world a unitary government.

    Although our governments had sufficient time to prepare for the landing of COVID-19, we were still caught flat footed. Some states did not have any testing centres. Some states with a population of four million or more still have only one testing centre, a few ventilators and squalid isolation centres. Some have not done enough advocacy to the people. The monies which some states can benefit if they claim to have COVID-19 patients is also an issue.

    I know two young men who lost their lives to COVID-19. In both cases there is the subtle request that the information should not be in the public domain. There is the belief that COVID-19 carries a stigma. Not true by the way. Anybody could become a victim. If we do not publicly declare the cause of death how would people in their circle believe that it is real? How can we do contact tracing? How prepared are the different governments for treating people who go down with the disease? There have been reports of sick persons who were turned back because they were not sick enough. Most doctors in hospitals are not fully equipped to deal with persons who present themselves for treatment in hospitals. A friend narrated how a pregnant lady died in one of the teaching hospitals. Although she presented as an emergency no one could really touch her. Between being referred from one government facility to another she died. This is scary.

    It is true that the pandemic has stretched the health facilities of most countries to the limit. Yet some are better prepared than others. But hospitals are not accepting patients for routine health challenges. This is dangerous. We realize the risk health personnel face when they admit patients who turn out to have a different health issue. Too many lives that could have been saved are being quietly lost. The message is that no one should fall ill at this time. Even routine treatment of hypertension cases has become problematic. This should not be.

    We need a re-evaluation of our strategies on COVID-19. We need massive enlightenment programmes. We need to do more testing. The interstate movement prohibition is not working. People move from one state to the other. We need to carry the people along. We need to lead by example by wearing masks and social distancing. We need to change the narrative about COVID-19 being a conduit pipe for looting the treasury. We need to enforce the protocols – washing of hands, social/physical distancing and use of masks. How do we convince the people that it is safe to go the market but not safe to go to church places and mosques? Tough. In places of religious worship, there can be some control as I observed earlier on. Not in the marketplaces.

    Finally, the point must be made that COVID-19 is real. Hunger and the desire to get on in life are real too. Hunger is more visible than COVID-19. The state should not abandon the people. There is the contract between the elected and the electorate. This is the time to act. I have not heard of any of the states or the federal government equipping any hospital to meet the demands of the times. We are in an emergency. Government through word and deed should show that the situation is dire and that the people matter. But who is listening?

    Eghagha can be reached on 08023220393

  • Democrats slam Trump as White House downplays spike in virus cases

    Democrats slam Trump as White House downplays spike in virus cases

    The number of coronavirus cases continued to spike across much of the U.S. on Sunday as the White House downplayed the severity of new outbreaks and sought to deflect responsibility on to local authorities.

    U.S. Vice President Mike Pence blamed the rising infection rate on expanded testing and criticised the media’s continued focus on rising case numbers.

    “What the media doesn’t focus on at all is because of the sacrifices the American people made… to slow the spread and the good common sense measures they continue to do, we’ve continued to see fatalities decline,” Pence said in an interview broadcast on CBS on Sunday.

    He noted that many new cases in hotspots Florida and Texas were among people below the age of 35, and claimed this posed a lower mortality risk.

    When pressed on a national response, Pence said local authorities were best placed to handle the situation.

    Democrats meanwhile accused the Republican administration of ignoring a looming crisis, as health experts warned the situation could soon spiral out of control, with tens of thousands of new cases reported each day.

    “It’s time for this administration to take this seriously,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a top Democrat, told broadcaster ABC. We have the worst record of any country in the world and the president says we are making progress,” she added.

    More than a dozen states have serious new outbreaks, with some regions seeing caseloads increase by 50 per cent. The U.S. last week broke its own record for new cases.

  • COVID-19: Gov Okowa places 7 LGAs in Delta on red alert

    COVID-19: Gov Okowa places 7 LGAs in Delta on red alert

    …Governor dishes out orders

    …Says Deltans must observe COVID-19 guidelines

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has placed 7 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of his State on red alert over rising cases of the dreadful Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Okowa made this known in a statement he personally signed on Saturday, while deploying the rising cases of the virus in his State.

    He listed the LGAs to include Oshimili South, Warri South, Uvwie, Oshimili North, Ughelli North, Ethiope West, and Sapele.

    Okowa, whose daughter recently contracted the COVID-19, particularly advised residents of the LGAs that are most affected by the virus, to be on red alert.

    The Governor ordered that henceforth, banks, supermarkets, malls, stores, salons, and motorists MUST admit limited persons per time and strictly enforce the physical/social distancing rule.

    “My dear Deltans, this is a clarion call to arms. We must brace up and take responsibility for our collective health and safety NOW.

    “It is very worrisome that many of our people still walk the streets without wearing a face mask or even observing physical/social distancing.

    “In addition to providing hand wash stations/alcohol-based sanitizers, banks, salons, supermarkets, stores, and malls MUST deny entry to patrons without facemasks. Where there is more than one person, occupants of private vehicles MUST also wear face masks.

    “The number of guests at social events – weddings, funerals, traditional marriages – should not exceed 50 with appropriate physical distance set in place. People without face masks MUST be turned back. I also implore our religious houses to implement all the safety protocols as agreed.

    “Residents in the most affected local governments – Oshimili South, Warri South, Uvwie, Oshimili North, Ughelli North, Ethiope West, and Sapele – are particularly advised to be on red alert.

    “Let me emphasise once again that the coronavirus disease is real, and anybody can contact it. It is neither a rich man’s nor a poor man’s disease. Anybody can be affected.

    “I call on every resident in the State to act responsibly to protect yourself and others, and do not forget to continue praying for God’s merciful intervention to stop this raging pandemic. Together we shall beat this virus,” he stated.

    Deploying the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the State, Governor Okowa said it had become obvious that community transmission of the virus had reached an alarming and frightening proportion.

    The Governor said that it was regrettable that many persons still think that the Coronavirus disease was a hoax.

    “It cannot be a hoax when over 20 persons have died including some prominent citizens.

    “Therefore, I want to make a passionate appeal to all Deltans to please realise that the coronavirus disease is real,’’ he said, disclosing that as at Saturday, number of confirmed cases of the virus in the State was 781,’’ he said.

    The latest figure from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that on Saturday, Delta recorded 47 additional COVID-19 cases.

    This brings the total number of infected persons in the State so far to 828, with the LGAs mostly affected placed on red alert.

    Okowa explained that “the State Government allowed normal business activities to go on in essential sectors of the economy to enable citizens take care of their families. It does not in any way suggest that the danger is over.

    “We made this decision with all sense of responsibility while counting on your partnership with the Government to defeat this virus. Regrettably, it does appear our people have not taken this matter as seriously as they should.

    “Our isolation centres are currently overwhelmed with the number of cases and unless we proactively and collectively take drastic actions to reverse the trend, we stand the risk of becoming another epicentre for the pandemic.

    “In the absence of a specific curative drug, the only way to check the transmission of the virus is for all of us to adhere strictly to the NCDC-issued guidelines and safety protocols, which are as follows:

    “Stay at home as much as possible. Only go out if it is ESSENTIAL for you to do so.

    “If you must go out, please ensure that you maintain about six feet distance from other persons. This is because the virus is transmitted through droplets – either due to coughing, sneezing, or talking – of an infected person.

    “Wear face masks once you are outside your home. This will shield you from droplets from a carrier.

    “Avoid crowds and large gatherings as much as possible.

    “Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds as often as possible. If this is not readily available, make sure you have a potable alcohol-based hand sanitizer to rub your hands.

    “Refrain from touching your face with unwashed hands, especially outside your home. Avoid hugs and handshakes”.

  • Global coronavirus cases surpass 10 million in major landmark

    Global coronavirus cases surpass 10 million in major landmark

    The number of coronavirus cases confirmed worldwide rose to 10 million on Sunday, according to a tally collated by Johns Hopkins University.

    The United States, Brazil and Russia are listed as having the largest number of cases in real terms, with their caseloads recorded as 2.5 million, 1.3 million and 634,000, respectively.

    The U.S. has seen its caseload rise at the fastest rate in recent weeks.

    The novel coronavirus, which causes a potentially deadly respiratory illness called COVID-19, has affected the vast majority of countries, and responses have varied greatly, depending on national income, health care system and other factors.

    As a result, the death toll in relation to the overall caseload has varied greatly from country to country.

    Johns Hopkins has recorded just shy of half a million deaths, with the U.S., Brazil and Britain ranking the highest in terms of mortality rate.

  • [Video] ‘It is no longer Coronavirus, it is now anti-Church virus’ – Bishop Oyedepo

    [Video] ‘It is no longer Coronavirus, it is now anti-Church virus’ – Bishop Oyedepo

    The General overseer of Living Faith Church also known as Winners’ Chapel International, Bishop Oyedepo has described the coronavirus pandemic as an anti-church virus.

    The 65-year-old made this known while he was preaching and lamenting bitterly about why the government has refused to allow churches to function.

    According to Oyedepo as he is fondly called, Coronavirus is a strategy of the devil and his human agents to stop the growth of the church all over the world. In his words:
    ”Coronavirus is nothing but anti-church virus. Now, freedom of worship is no longer a constitutional right.

    “It is now determined by certain individuals. This is no longer coronavirus, at least in two states- Lagos and Ogun, this is an anti-church virus. Caution must be exercised. Can anybody silence the church? Never. I have never heard of anybody that got healed in the market but God heals people in the church day and night. We have recorded 114 coronavirus healing testimonies, we got 10 this week. And that is the place that is vulnerable and not the market.

    “This is anti-church virus we are fighting. It is the grand design of the devil globally to see how he can silence the church. Everybody is in the market running over one another every day of the week and there is no outbreak from the market but there is an outbreak from the church, perceived outbreak.”

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    Covid-19 Is now anti-church virus in Nigeria

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  • JUST IN: FG releases further COVID-19 guidelines for places of worship

    JUST IN: FG releases further COVID-19 guidelines for places of worship

    The Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus disease (PTFCOVID19) has further provided updated guidelines that all places of worship, including churches and Christians, and mosques and Muslims, are expected to adhere to.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Federal Ministry of Health published the updated guidelines on Sunday using its official Twitter account as the COVID-19 burden in the country hits 24,077.

    The Ministry urged Nigerians to adhere to the guidelines to prevent further spread of the COVID-19, especially advising the elderly and those with underlying health conditions to stay away from places of worship in order not to expose themselves to the dreadful virus.

    COVID-19 prevention guidelines for all churches and Christians
    COVID-19 prevention guidelines for all mosques and Muslims

     

  • JUST IN: Peter of Psquare, wife, daughter, domestic staff test positive for COVID-19 [VIDEO]

    JUST IN: Peter of Psquare, wife, daughter, domestic staff test positive for COVID-19 [VIDEO]

    Peter Okoye, twin brother of the defunct music group (P-Square) also known as Mr. P has tested positive for COVID 19.

    The Nigerian musician confirmed this via his verified Twitter page on Saturday.

    In a series of videos posted, Peter Okoye revealed his wife, Lola Omotayo, and daughter, Aliona also tested positive for Coronavirus.

    He added that his domestic staff also contracted the virus.

    He noted that it has been hectic in the past few weeks for his family.

    He, however, urged all his fans to stay safe and adhere to COVID-19 guidelines.

  • Delta ex-Gov, Uduaghan reacts as Okowa’s daughter contracts COVID-19

    The immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has advised citizens to do more for themselves, saying the various arms of government are doing their best to contain the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Uduaghan gave the advice on Friday as Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, Edith go on self isolation after one their daughters tested positive for the dreadful virus.

    “From the stage of denial, we have gradually moved into the stage of asking this question: how careful can we be? It is now obvious that COVID-19 is right here with us. More worrisome is that, people whom we believe are quite careful are contacting it,” Uduaghan stated.

    Recall that Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases escalated to 22,614 on Thursday with 594 new cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The big surprise was Delta, where new infections surged by 106, in the last 24 hours.

    Delta was 9th on the cumulative leaderboard with 609 cases, before Thursday’s tally. With 709 cases, it will now leapfrog Kaduna to claim the 8th position behind Ogun that recorded just 12 cases on Thursday, taking its tally to 733 cases, with Lagos, as usual recording the highest cases of 159, and Ondo coming next to Delta with 44 cases.

    “Do we really know the complete mode of transmission? Is it not possible that the mode of transmission is more than what the scientists are currently telling us. No doubt it is a new illness, so we may not know everything about it. How careful can we be? These questions have no concrete answers” Uduaghan stated.

    While advising citizens to “observe the basic precautions that you have been reading and hearing of over and over,” the former Governor said, “being careful has no limits. Regular handwashing and/or use of sanitizer, use of face masks, physical/social distancing, elbow coverage of face while coughing or sneezing etc, avoiding crowded places, boosting your immunity with Vitamins C & D and Zinc tablets… are just the minimum”.

    Uduaghan advised citizens to take seriously healthy diet, exercises, cleaning of surfaces regularly with soap and water, bleach, dettol, spirits or savlon, etc.

    “Monitoring of domestic staff also very important; drivers, stewards, cooks, orderlies, security staff and PAs who have to go in and out of our homes or offices are becoming sources of infection.

    “Minimize social visits and social gatherings. Our outing should be more for economic activities. Let’s try and do more for ourselves, while the various arms of Government are doing their best. May God heal those who currently have the disease IJN,” Uduaghan stated.