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Tag: Coronavirus

  • List of 26 African countries with confirmed coronavirus cases

    List of 26 African countries with confirmed coronavirus cases

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, said there are now Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 26 African countries and there have been six COVID-19-related deaths.

    The UN health agency said this in its regional official twitter account @WHOAFRO.

    The agency said Government of Benin on Monday confirmed the country’s first case of COVID-19, a 49-year-old male of Burkinabe nationality, who entered Benin on March 12.

    “Over the weekend, Central African Republic, Eswatini, Rep of Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles announced first cases.”

    Egypt has 166 coronavirus cases, the highest in Africa. It is followed by South Africa, with 64 cases, Algeria 60, Tunisia 20, Senegal 24, Cameroon 3.

    WHO however reported two cases for Nigeria, when the Nigerian authorities said only one case, the first index case of a man from Milan, Italy remains.

    Burkina Faso has 7 cases, Togo 1, DRC 3, Cote d’Ivoire 5, Ghana 2, Gabon 1,Kenya 3, Ethiopia 4, Guinea 1, Rwanda 5, Namibia 2, Equatorial Guinea 1, Seychelles 2, CAR 1, Congo 1, Mauritania 1, Eswatini 1, Liberia 1, Sudan 1.’’

    Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said “With COVID-19 officially declared a pandemic, all countries in Africa must act.

    “Every country can still change the course of this pandemic by scaling up their emergency preparedness or response.

    “Cases may still be low in Africa and we can keep it that way with robust all-of-government actions to fight the new coronavirus.”

    According to her, containment remains the most appropriate strategy for African countries.

    Apart from South Africa and Algeria – which have clusters of transmission linked to imported cases – the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa are sporadic importations from European countries, mainly Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

  • Game of Thrones actor tests positive for Coronavirus

    Game of Thrones actor tests positive for Coronavirus

    Norwegian actor and HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, Kristofer Hivju has revealed that he has tested positive for COVID19 (Coronavirus), on Monday.

    The actor who is best known for playing the roles of Tormund Giantsbane in the HBO epic took to his Instagram page to share the news adding that he was self-isolating at home in Norway.

    Sharing a selfie, he wrote: “Greetings from Norway! Sorry to say that I, today, have tested positive for COVID19, Corona virus. My family and I are self-isolating at home for as long as it takes.

    “We are in good health – I only have mild symptoms of a cold. [sic]. There are people at higher risk for who this virus might be a devastating diagnosis, so I urge all of you to be extremely careful; wash your hands, keep 1,5 meters distance from others, go in quarantine; just do everything you can to stop the virus from spreading.”

    The Connor Rhodes actor in The Fate of the Furious also urged his followers to visit their country’s disease controls website and follow all the regulations to stay safe.

  • Just in: Over 12 Valencia players, staff test positive for coronavirus

    Just in: Over 12 Valencia players, staff test positive for coronavirus

    Valencia have confirmed that 35% of its players & staff tested positive for coronavirus.

    The Spanish club announced last weekend that players Mangala, Garay and Gaya and two other staff were infected with the coronavirus.

    But things are getting worse.

    According to the latest report by El Chiringuito, at least 12 Valencia players have tested positive for coronavirus.

    The club in a statement on Monday said:

    “Valencia CF inform that new positive cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been detected amongst first-team staff and players.

    “Despite the strict measures adopted by the club after playing a UEFA Champions League game on February 19, 2020, in Milan, an area confirmed as high risk by Italian authorities days later, distancing the squad for their work environment and the public, recent results show that exposure to those games has caused a 35 per cent positive result rate.

    “All of these persons are now at home, in good health and obeying self-isolation measures.

    “Besides providing further information over the coming hours, the club reiterate our support for the health authorities and their social awareness campaigns, and emphasise to all of the population the importance of staying at home and continuing to follow the previously published hygiene and illness-prevention measures.

    “Likewise, Valencia CF reiterate our confidence in the Spanish health system, and in the recommendations made by the Ministry of Health for cases of coronavirus infection such as these.”

  • BREAKING: Idris Elba test positive for coronavirus [Watch]

    BREAKING: Idris Elba test positive for coronavirus [Watch]

    Actor Idris Elba said he has tested positive for coronavirus(COVID-19).

    Elba, 47, said he received his test results Monday morning.
    So far, the “Luther” star said he feels “OK” and is showing no symptoms, according a video posted to Twitter.

    Elba said he had been isolated since finding out last Friday that he had been exposed to someone who tested the positive.

    See Tweet:

  • Coronavirus: Finland declares state of emergency

    Coronavirus: Finland declares state of emergency

    Finland, on Monday, declared a state of emergency to combat the coronavirus pandemic, including closing schools and banning visits to nursing homes and institutions, the government said.

    Prime Minister Sanna Marin says the 19-point programme to be formally approved on Tuesday will also allow immediate closure of the borders if necessary, with exceptions for Finnish residents returning to home and for goods and medicine.

    The closure of schools and universities would take effect from Wednesday, and would be in force until April 13.

    Public gatherings would be limited to at most 10 people, while cultural institutions, sports and youth centres would also be closed.

  • Coronavirus: Chelsea player defies self-isolation protocol

    Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount was spotted playing at a football park along with West Ham’s Declan Rice on Sunday, defying the club’s self-isolation protocols which came into place last week.

    Chelsea’s first-team players and coaching staff are all in self-isolation after winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the coronavirus last week.

    It was reported that Mount and Rice, both England internationals, were playing a five-a-side game at the Trent Park Football centre near Barnet.

    It is understood that Chelsea players have been reminded about the self-isolation protocols and are expected to resume training only when they are out of isolation on March 22 to March 23.

    West Ham said last week that some club personnel are self-isolating after making direct contact with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta —- who also tested positive for the virus.

    But the players were not self-isolating.

    The English Premier League has been suspended until April 4 due to the coronavirus pandemic which has been responsible for an unprecedented shutdown of world sports.

    Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 170,000 people and over 6,500 have died.

    The UK has nearly 1,400 cases with 35 deaths.

  • Keri Hilson opens on coronavirus not being rampant in Africa

    Keri Hilson opens on coronavirus not being rampant in Africa

    Keri Hilson, American singer,has averred that coronavirus crisis has not been rampant in Africa because the continent is not a 5G region.

    In series of posts shared on her social media page on Monday, the award-winning singer noted that the launch of 5G network on Nov 1, 2019 facilitated the outbreak of the killer virus globally.

    Keri claims that the presence of melanin, a skin pigment, said to be common among people with black skin, was due to its low spread in Africa were untrue.

    “Why do you think the virus is not happening in Africa like that? Not a 5G region. There may be a few bases there, but not as prevalent as other countries. It has nothing to do w/ melanin (for those theories),” she wrote on Twitter.

    “And to be clear, I’m saying there have been lots of studies & experiments that point to the possibility that the dangerous levels of electromagnetic radiation (5G) could be causing the contagious virus.”

    Keri added that Bill Gates alongside other research organisations had warned against the invention of 5G network some years ago, but such warnings were not heeded.

    “In a 2019 Netflix Documentary, Bill Gates himself warned of a global health pandemic that would originate in China,” she also wrote on Instagram.

    Researchers & organizations have done studies, made petitions, and issued warnings of the dangers of 5G over the past few years. A quick search will produce them. Residents of Australia have filed assault charges against phone companies—and won.”

  • BREAKING: CBN slashes interest rates, directs banks to restructure loan policy

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced reduction of interest rates in all its intervention facilities from nine per cent to five per cent per annum for one year to ameliorate the effect of coronavirus pandemic.

    The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele made this known while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

    Emefiele said the reduction of the interest rates took effect from March 1.

    He disclosed that the bank had also extended moratorium of all CBN intervention facilities on all principal repayment for one year effective from March 1.

    The CBN governor explained that this means that any intervention loan currently under moratorium is hereby granted additional period of one year.

    The governor, therefor, directed all financial institutions to provide new schedule for all facilities for their beneficiaries.

    Similarly, Emefiele noted that the apex bank had also created a facility through the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Micro Finance Banks to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises that had been hit by covid-19.

    He disclosed that the sum of N50 billion would be given through NIRSAL to support business owners like hoteliers, airlines, service providers, and healthcare merchants among others.

    The governor also announced credit support for healthcare industry to meet potential increase in demand for healthcare services and products.

    “CBN hereby, opens its intervention facilities, loans to pharmaceutical companies intending to expand or establish their own drugs manufacturing companies in Nigeria.

    “This will also be extended to hospitals and healthcare practitioners who intend to expand or build healthcare facilities to first class standard.

    “This is in addition to growing the size of our existing intervention to the agriculture and manufacturing sectors in the country,’’ he said.

    Emefiele noted that these interventions were necessary because of the effect of COVID-19 on global economy including Nigeria.

    He said thousands of people had been affected while thousands were also killed by COVID-19, hence leaders of different countries had started to respond by taking actions to mitigate the pain caused by the outbreak.

    The CBN governor added that initial assessment showed that the consequences of the health crisis on different countries would affect the economy.

    He said that with this development, the global economy would go into recession, adding that these measures being taken by CBN were necessary.

  • Senate Majority Leader tests positive for coronavirus

    Senate Majority Leader tests positive for coronavirus

    Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri a senator in the Philippines confirmed today that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He is the Senate Majority Leader.

    The test results were relayed to him by Health Secretary Francisco Duque, reported inquirer.net.

    He was found to be asymptomatic, meaning that he has yet to show any symptoms of the disease like dry cough, fever and shortness of breath.

    In a message to reporters, Zubiri said: “To my dear fellow Filipinos, my Kababayans. It is with sadness that I announce that I am positive for Covid 19. I had a test taken last Friday while on self-quarantine and this afternoon I received a call from Sec. Duque on my condition.”

    “My heart sank with what he had said but I’m uplifted with the fact that I am asymptomatic and have no fever or cough nor am I weak or have any headaches. My decision to self-quarantine last Wednesday evening after session was the best decision I made and could have protected my Family from contamination,” he added.

    Zubiri is one of the government officials who went into self-quarantine after possible exposure from COVID-19, as one of the Senate’s resource persons was confirmed to be positive for the disease.

    As at Monday, there are 140 COVID-19 patients in the Philippines , 12 of whom have died. All over the world, 168,000 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19, with at least 6,506 dead.

  • Pogba sets up coronavirus fundraiser

    Pogba sets up coronavirus fundraiser

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has set up a fundraising page and pledged financial support to Unicef to help children affected by coronavirus.

    After turning 27 on Sunday, Pogba set up the birthday fundraiser to “help fight this war against Covid-19”.

    The France international says he will double the fund if his goal of £27,000 is reached.

    “The impact of a large-scale outbreak, especially on poor and vulnerable children, can be immense,” Pogba wrote.

    “It’s my birthday and I’m always grateful that me, my family and friends are healthy. Nonetheless, not everybody is in good health right now.

    “At times like this we need to come together.”

    The money will be used to provide disposable gloves, surgical masks and vented goggles for health workers,.

    On his 26th birthday, Pogba raised £7,360 for clean water organisation Charity Water.