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Tag: Coronavirus

  • Presidency attacks Fani-Kayode for demanding identity of Italian who brought Coronavirus to Nigeria

    President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, has blasted Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, for demanding the identity of the Italian who brought coronavirus to Nigeria.

    Fani-Kayode who is a staunch critic of President Buhari’s administration had on Wednesday accused the authorities of hiding the truth about the coronavirus patient who tested positive in Lagos on the 27th of February 2020.

    Fani Kayode had said: “The Italian that brought coronavirus into Nigeria has not been named & his picture has not been released to the public.

    “The driver that was alleged to have driven him to Abeokuta said he did not do so. The passengers on the plane in which he flew into Nigeria cannot be traced.

    “The claim that he was an employee of a company & that he went to their office in Lagos after leaving the airport has proved to be false. Finally, the Lagos state Comm. of Health went to see the Italian without wearing any protective gear.

    “Something doesn’t add up in this saga.”

    Reacting to the statement made by Fani-Kayode, Lauretta Onochie, who shared a video of a US hospital protecting the identity of a coronavirus patient, described the former minister as Nigeria’s foremost drug addict.

    She said: “Privacy is the right of every human. Well or unwell.

    “Here are respectful people shielding the identity of a patient.

    “Nigeria is keeping the identity of the Italian receiving treatment for COVID-19 infection. But Femi Fani Kayode, Nigeria’s foremost drug addict, wants his identity.”

  • Coronavirus: FG locates, isolates 55 passengers aboard flight with infected Italian

    Coronavirus: FG locates, isolates 55 passengers aboard flight with infected Italian

    The Federal Government has said it is now in contact with 55 of the passengers on board the aircraft that conveyed to Nigeria the Italian who tested positive to coronavirus.

    A total of 148 people were on board the Turkish Airline that conveyed the Italian who was on a short business trip to Lagos from Milan, Italy.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and port health services of the Federal Ministry of Health were monitoring the temperature and possible appearance of symptoms of 55 of the 148 passengers on the manifest of the said flight.

    He said, however, that none of the passengers under watch had exhibited any symptom.

    Ehanire said: “Up till today, there have been no symptoms. We are also trying to look out for others and we hope every passenger on that Turkish Airline who have not yet been contacted will contact the NCDC on 0800970001 – 10. They should also continue to self-isolate.

    “Multi-sectoral emergency operation centre led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) continues to coordinate national response activities.

    “Also, the national rapid response teams are supporting Lagos and Ogun states with the contact-tracing and other activities.”

    Earlier in the week, the minister had expressed worries that some people gave telephone numbers that did not work or were switched off.

    He said some others, particularly new arrivals in Nigeria who were yet to register with any phone company, might not have access to telephone.

    The minister added: “We are following up with 61 contacts of the index case; 21 in Lagos and 40 in Ogun State.

    “The contacts are under supervised self-isolation and states have provided them with temperature monitoring tools. All of them have remained symptom-free so far.

    “Between 7th of February and 5th of March, 2020, a total of 21 suspected cases were reported across four states in Nigeria, namely – Lagos, Ogun, FCT, and Kano. The index case we have in Lagos is stable, symptoms are mild and is being treated at the infectious disease hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

    “There is still only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Nigeria, which is the index case, and no death.

    “There were three new suspected cases between the 4th of March and 5th of March, 2020; out of these, two cases were negative and one result is pending.”

  • Italian coronavirus patient suffers depression, Lagos unsure of discharge date

    Italian coronavirus patient suffers depression, Lagos unsure of discharge date

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has revealed that the Italian being treated for coronavirus at the Infectious Disease Centre, Yaba, is depressed but getting better.

    Abayomi, who made the statement at a briefing on Thursday, said the Italian, was responding to treatment, but would only be released when he would no longer be a threat to the other members of society.

    Abayomi said: “The Italian has been with us for one week now; his clinical situation is quite stable, the symptoms are dramatically resolving; so, we are expectant that we will continue to make this kind of progress.

    “Sometime over the weekend, he developed a respiratory symptom, and we initiated some therapy in the form of ant-viral, which are not curative, but just to make it easier for his immune system to fight the infection. He seems to have responded to that; so we are keeping him on that and there are no side effects.

    “As of today (Wednesday), he is in a better spirit; he requested psychosocial support as he was getting a bit depressed because he is in isolation. He is the only person in the ward, and of course, very few visitors, because his family is not in Nigeria.

    “His last viral load, which is the measure of the virus in his body, shows that the level is going down. If that trend continues he will be better. I can’t give the precise estimate in terms of the date that he will be released, it may not be long, perhaps another week. As soon as he is not secreting the viruses, that means he is no longer contagious. However, to be safe, after we get the first negative, we wait a few days and repeat it and if the second test is negative then we are confident that he can return to the community without posing a danger to other people.”

  • COVID-19 : Nigeria produces local hand sanitisers

    COVID-19 : Nigeria produces local hand sanitisers

    The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) says it has produced locally made hand sanitisers to improve access to the product in the bid to check coronavirus in Nigeria.

    Dr Obi Adigwe, Director General of NIPRD made this known on Friday in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing by Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health.

    Adigwe said that as part of efforts to address the disruptions in supply chains for hand sanitisers, the institute had manufactured it locally.

    He said the product had undergone pilot development and is of high quality against the spread of Covid-19.

    Adigwe added that NIPRD also opened a database for Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturers who had been licensed to produce hand sanitisers in Nigeria.

    He added that NIPRD was established for research and development of drugs, biological products and pharmaceutical raw materials based on indigenous resources.

    “Following the ministerial directive, we have now produced this hand sanitiser in our facility in Abuja.

    “This is just the first of at least 10 strategic actions NIPRD is taking to control the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria,” he said.

  • Premier League bans pre-match handshakes

    The Premier League and EFL have said pre-match handshakes between both teams and officials will not take place until further notice because of fears over the spread of coronavirus.

    The measure comes the day after the government asked the Premier League “to step up its contingency planning”.

    The teams will still line up as usual but the home team will walk past the away side without shaking hands.

    There have been more than 90,000 cases of the virus in 87 countries.

    A statement on the Premier League’s website said: “The Premier League fair-play handshake will not take place between players and match officials from this weekend until further notice based on medical advice.

    “Coronavirus is spread via droplets from the nose and mouth and can be transmitted on to the hands and passed on via a handshake.”

    A statement from the English Football League said: “Whilst the government guidance does remain unchanged, a decision has been taken on medical advice and as a precautionary measure.

    “Matchday operations at EFL grounds are set to continue this weekend with clubs being advised to take appropriate prevention measures as per the government guidance.

    “It is understood, however, that individual clubs may take decisions at a local level to help mitigate the risk of the virus spreading further ahead of this weekend’s matches.

    “The EFL continues to remain in regular dialogue with the government regarding the ongoing developments and is being appraised on a regular basis of developments that could potentially impact our clubs and competitions.”

    Pre-match handshakes before National League games have also been abandoned until further notice.

    Premier League leaders Liverpool announced on Thursday that they would not be having mascots at Anfield.

    They have also cancelled staff travelling to any high-risk countries and “reminded everyone of good hygiene practices”.

    The club also said there will be “hand sanitisers and/or antibacterial handwash in all the washrooms at Anfield” as well as hygiene information posters.

    Last week Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said the club had stopped their morning handshake ritual while West Ham boss David Moyes said the players would be fist bumping instead of shaking hands.

    Southampton also banned players from signing autographs or taking selfies with fans.

    League One club Sunderland have also told their players to not go abroad during their upcoming break.

  • Coronavirus: FIFA may postpone World Cup qualifiers

    Coronavirus: FIFA may postpone World Cup qualifiers

    FIFA is considering postponing the Asian World Cup qualifiers due to be played this month because of the coronavirus outbreak, the global football body said.

    China’s matches against Maldives at home and Guam away have already been moved Buriram, Thailand, and will be played behind closed doors.

    FIFA said it would provide an update following consultations with the national associations and would continue to monitor the situation in co-operation with the World Health Organisation.

    However, more than two dozen other matches are scheduled to be played around the continent over two match days on March 26 and 31.

    “A formal proposal to postpone upcoming matches in the Asian FIFA World Cup 2022 and the Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers will now be shared with the relevant member associations,” said FIFA in a statement.

    “For both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the well-being and health of all individuals involved in football matches remains the highest priority,” it added.

     

  • BREAKING: Togo confirms first case of Coronavirus

    BREAKING: Togo confirms first case of Coronavirus

    Togo on Friday confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus after a 42-year-old woman tested positive following her return from a trip to Benin, Germany, France and Turkey.

    The presidency in the West African nation of eight million people said the patient, who lives in the capital Lome with her family, was “currently isolated in a treatment centre for infectious diseases” after testing positive on Thursday.

    “From February 22 to March 2, 2020 she visited Benin, Germany, France and Turkey before returning to Togo via the land border with Benin,” the presidency said in a statement.

    It said all people who had contact with the patient in the country “have been identified and put in quarantine”.

    In sub-Saharan Africa, Senegal has registered four cases, all foreign nationals, and South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon have one case each since the outbreak emerged in December in China.

  • Just in: Two out of three suspected Coronavirus cases are negative – Health Minister

    Just in: Two out of three suspected Coronavirus cases are negative – Health Minister

    The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has confirmed that two out of the three recent suspected cases of Coronavirus identified in Lagos are negative, while the result for the last is still being awaited.

    Channels Television reported that the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, on Thursday, disclosed that three cases have been identified were being tested in the Lagos isolation centre.

    One of those involved, he added, is a Nigerian who returned from France four days ago, a second entered the country from the United Kingdom and a third from China.

    Dr Ehanire, while updating journalists on the recent development of the COVID-19 case in Nigeria on Friday, stressed that the results take some time to come out, but the country has only one confirmed case.

    “As of the three cases, one of them, we are expecting the result; it takes some hours for the results to come out.”

    READ ALSO: Three Suspected Coronavirus Patients Undergo Tests In Lagos

    The Minister urged Nigerian to desist from profiling or trying to know the identity of suspected cases.

    “We must go away from the idea of focusing on Chinese or any particular nationality because a case that entered Nigeria, which is the index case is not Chinese.

    “If we are profiling and focusing on the wrong areas, we risk losing the right thinking,” he maintained.

    Adding, Dr Ehanire said that authorities have already strengthened the screening of every passenger using the country’s entry-point, noting that soon, passengers departing the country will be screened.

    “People should maintain good social distance. We have already strengthened the screening of every passenger that enters this country.”

  • Just in: Egypt detects 12 new Coronavirus cases on Nile cruise boat

    Just in: Egypt detects 12 new Coronavirus cases on Nile cruise boat

    Egypt’s health ministry said it registered 12 people carrying the coronavirus on a Nile cruise ship heading to the southern city of Aswan from Luxor, state television reported on Friday.

    The country had until now diagnosed three people with the virus, one of whom it said had fully recovered after receiving treatment.

    Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said the detection came after information from WHO that a Taiwanese-American tourist, who was on board the cruise, had tested positive after returning home.

    Megahed said the ministry has followed up on medical conditions of those who were in contact with the tourist over the past fourteen days and they did not show any symptoms.

    However, the 12 cases, all Egyptian workers on the ship, tested positive after a PCR test was carried out following the conclusion of the 14-day incubation period.

    The 12 cases have been referred to an isolation hospital, with others believed to be in contact with them currently placed in quarantine for 14 days, to follow up on their health conditions.

    Friday’s announcement comes one day after Egypt announced the first confirmed case in the country of an Egyptian, a recent returnee from Europe.

    The two previous cases were both foreign nationals; one has since recovered.

    John Jabbour, the WHO representative in Egypt, said the detection of the cases confirms the efficiency of Egypt’s preventive plan to combat the disease and deal with infected cases following their detection.

    He praised Egypt’s transparency and fast response in notifying the WHO about the cases, the statement said.

  • Coronavirus: Facebook, Google direct staff to work from home

    Coronavirus: Facebook, Google direct staff to work from home

    The managements of Facebook Inc and Google have urged their San Francisco Bay area employees to work from home to minimize the risk of spreading Covid-19.

    Earlier, Facebook had announced that its Seattle office be shut down after one of its contractors got infected.

    Facebook said it is “strongly recommending that all Bay area employees and contingent staff work from home starting Friday.”

    According to the statement, employees and contractors involved in the site’s safety and security will continue to work on-site, while all the Bay Area events will remain canceled.

    According to Facebook’s spokesperson, Anthony Harrison, the decision is “based on the guidance from Santa Clara County on Thursday”.