Tag: Coronavirus

2 more die of coronavirus in Japan

Japan’s Health Ministry, on Friday, said two more people have died of Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus that originated in China, including one on the Diamond Princess Cruise vessel.

The new deaths raised the total toll to 10 in Japan, including five on the cruise ship.

Meanwhile, the Hokkaido prefectural government found 12 more new coronavirus infections, which brought the total on the Northern Island to 66, the largest among the 47 prefectures, while Japan has seen more than 930 confirmed cases.

This, they said, included 705 on the vessel in the port of Yokohama.

The new cases prompted Hokkaido Governor, Naomichi Suzuki, to declare a state of emergency on the island and ask residents to avoid going out over the weekend.

February 28, 2020
Pope cancels more meetings after slight illness

Pope Francis on Friday cancelled engagements due to a slight ailment.

According to the Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, Francis celebrated morning Mass as usual but decided to postpone the day’s official audiences.

Bruni said the 83-year-old pontiff would however, confirm other meetings due to be held in Santa Marta, his residence within the Vatican’s grounds.

On Thursday, Francis pulled out of celebrating a Lenten service with priests from the Rome diocese in the Basilica of St. John in Lateran, roughly a six-kilometre drive from St. Peter’s Square.

Earlier, as he held his weekly audience and later led an Ash Wednesday service, he displayed the symptoms of a cold, with a hoarse voice and frequent coughing.

Francis’ ailment was announced amid widespread anxiety in Italy about the spread of the pneumonia-like new coronavirus, which is mostly affecting Northern regions and not Rome.

He, however, commented on the public health crisis, expressing his closeness to those who were ill with coronavirus and to health-care workers who are caring for them.

February 28, 2020
Just In: Nigeria’s first coronavirus patient visited Ogun State

The Italian confirmed to have been infected with Coronavirus had also visited Ewekoro in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State this week.

But residents and visitors to the state have no reason to panic, the Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker said on Friday morning.

Coker disclosed that the Italian visited a giant manufacturing company(name withheld) in Ewekoro community, adding that the facility so visited has since been quarantined in accordance with health safety standard.

The Commissioner, who abandoned her bed rest to attend to the public health emergency, while briefing the press, said the state has epidemiologists and Infectious Disease Consultant already handling the situation with support from the Lagos State Government and Federal Government.

She said efforts are in place to get in touch with people that have had contact with the established index case.

She advised the public to wash their hands regularly, cover their mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing and to report to the nearest public health centre if they notice any sign of cold, cough and respiratory difficulty.

February 28, 2020
Coronavirus: Premier League club ban players from shaking hands

Premier League side Newcastle have introduced a training ground handshake ban because of coronavirus, says manager Steve Bruce.

More than 80,000 people have been infected by the virus worldwide, resulting in nearly 2,800 deaths.

“There’s a ritual that everybody shakes hands when we see each other every morning – we’ve stopped that on the advice of the doctor,” said Bruce.

“Thankfully, we’ve got a superb doctor here and he will keep us informed of what we have to do.”

Bruce added: “We’re like everybody else, we’re glued to the TV for where it’s going to go next and let’s hope it doesn’t get any worse in this country.”

February 28, 2020
Pet dog suspected of having Coronavirus quarantined

The pet dog of a patient with coronavirus is in quarantine after testing weak positive for the virus, Hong Kong authorities said on Friday.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said it was to run further tests on the animal to determine whether it has contracted the disease, or if the result was caused by environmental contamination of the dog’s mouth and nose.

The animal was not showing any relevant symptoms.

The AFCD said it did not have evidence at present that pets can be infected with the virus causing the Covid-19 disease, but advises to quarantine pets of infected patients to ensure public and animal health.

The department also urged pet owners to wash their hands thoroughly after handling their pets.

February 28, 2020
BREAKING: Nigeria confirms first case of coronavirus

The Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed a coronavirus(Covid-19) case in Lagos State Nigeria. The case which was confirmed on 27/02/2020 is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the outbreak in China in January 2020.

The Lagos State government also issued a statement confirming the case.

The statement from the Lagos state government reads:

The Ministry of Health in Lagos State has confirmed its first case of COVID-19 and reported it to the Federal Ministry of Health. The case, which was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020, is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the outbreak in China in January 2020.

The case is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit. He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing.

The COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

The Government of Lagos State under the Governor as the COVID-19 Incident Commander, through the Lagos State Ministry of Health, has been strengthening measures to ensure that any outbreak in Lagos is controlled and contained quickly in collaboration with the multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group, led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). We have immediately activated the State Emergency Operations Centre to respond to this case and implement firm control measures.

I wish to assure all Lagosians and Nigerians that we have been strengthening our preparedness since the first confirmation of cases in China. We will use all the resources made available by the State and the Federal Government to respond to this case.

We are working to identify all the contacts of the patient since he arrived in Nigeria. Please, be reminded that most people who become infected may experience only a mild illness and recover easily, but it can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly and persons with other underlying chronic illnesses. All Lagosians should take care of their health and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene to protect themselves and others, including their own families, following the precautions below:

1. Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

2. Maintain at least 1 & half metres (5 feet) distance between you and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

3. People coughing persistently or sneezing should stay indoors or keep a social distance, but not mix with a crowd.

4. Ensure that you and people around you follow good respiratory hygiene by covering mouths and noses with a handkerchief or tissue while sneezing or coughing. You can also sneeze or cough into your sleeve at the bent elbow. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

5. Stay indoors if you feel unwell with symptoms, such as fever, cough and difficulty in breathing. Please call Lagos State Emergency hotlines 08023169485 or 08033565529 or 08052817243 which are available day and night.

6. Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19 through official channels on TV and Radio, the Social Media, including the Lagos State Ministry of Health, NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health.

Citizens must not abuse social media and indulge in spreading misinformation that causes fear and panic. The Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, will continue to provide updates and will initiate all measures required to prevent the spread of an outbreak in Lagos.

February 28, 2020
Coronavirus in Nigeria: Six ways to avoid COVID-19 infection

Coronavirus Nigeria| Now that the first case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Health and Lagos State Government, TheNewsGru has gathered protective measures you can adopt against the deadly disease.

Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following in joining the war against ‘Coronavirus Nigeria‘:

Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.

Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow the advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

February 28, 2020
How Italian businessman brought first Coronavirus case to Nigeria

The first case of the deadly Coronavirus has been confirmed in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, the State Government confirmed early Friday morning.

It was brought in by an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in a statement said Lagos State has reported the patient to the Federal Ministry of Health.

“He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos,”he said.

Abayomi said government was working to identify all the contacts of the patient, since he arrived in Nigeria.

“Please, be reminded that most people who become infected may experience only a mild illness and recover easily, but it can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly”, he said.

The case, which was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020, is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the outbreak in China in late December 2019. And it underscored the eerie warning by the WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that all countries need to prepare to combat the deadly coronavirus.

With new infections reported around the world now surpassing those in mainland China, Ghebreyesus said even rich nations should prepare.

“No country should assume it won’t get cases, that would be a fatal mistake, quite literally,” Tedros said, pointing to Italy, where 17 people have died in Europe’s worst outbreak.

February 28, 2020
UPDATE: Lagos commences manhunt for all contacts of Italian hit by coronavirus

The Lagos State government said it has begun a massive manhunt for all the people who had made a contact with Italian now in isolation in Lagos, for testing positive for coronavirus.

The commissioner for health, Professor Akin Abayomi said the government is looking for all the contacts of the patient, since he arrived in Nigeria.

“Please, be reminded that most people who become infected may experience only a mild illness and recover easily, but it can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly”, the commissioner said.

The Lagos Government said it is not alone in the task of containing the virus, as it is working in collaboration with the multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group, led by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Government.

“We have immediately activated the State Emergency Operations Centre to respond to this case and implement firm control measures.

“We wish to assure all Lagosians and Nigerians that we have been strengthening our preparedness since the first confirmation of cases in China. We will use all the resources made available by the State and the Federal Government to respond to this case”.

The Italian arrived Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit

“He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos,” Abayomi said.

February 28, 2020
BREAKING: Lagos records, confirms first case of Coronavirus

The Lagos State Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in a statement early Friday morning said the government had reported the development to the Federal Ministry of Health.

The statement read in part: “The case, which was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020, is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the outbreak in China in January 2020.

“The case is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy, for a brief business visit.

“He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.”

The commissioner said the state government through the Lagos State Ministry of Health, had put measures in place to ensure that any outbreak in the state was controlled and contained quickly in collaboration with the multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group, led by the NCDC.

“We have immediately activated the State Emergency Operations Centre to respond to this case and implement firm control measures.

“I wish to assure all Lagosians and Nigerians that we have been strengthening our preparedness since the first confirmation of cases in China. We will use all the resources made available by the state government and the Federal Government to respond to this case.

“We are working to identify all the contacts of the patient since he arrived in Nigeria. Please, be reminded that most people who become infected may experience only a mild illness and recover easily, but it can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly and persons with other underlying chronic illnesses. All Lagosians should take care of their health and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene to protect themselves and others, including their own families, following these precautions:

“Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

“Maintain at least 1 & half metres (5 feet) distance between you and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

“People coughing persistently or sneezing should stay indoors or keep a social distance, but not mix with a crowd.

“Ensure that you and people around you follow good respiratory hygiene by covering mouths and noses with a handkerchief or tissue while sneezing or coughing. You can also sneeze or cough into your sleeve at the bent elbow. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

“Stay indoors if you feel unwell with symptoms, such as fever, cough and difficulty in breathing. Please call Lagos State Emergency hotlines 08023169485 or 08033565529 or 08052817243 which are available day and night.

“Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19 through official channels on TV and Radio, the Social Media, including the Lagos State Ministry of Health, NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health.

“Citizens must not abuse social media and indulge in spreading misinformation that causes fear and panic. The Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, will continue to provide updates and will initiate all measures required to prevent the spread of any outbreak in Lagos,” The commissioner said.

February 28, 2020