TheNewsGuru

Tag: Coronavirus

  • BREAKING: Israel announces Coronavirus breakthrough

    BREAKING: Israel announces Coronavirus breakthrough

    Israeli scientists have announced a major breakthrough vaccine against the Coronavirus disease for poultry, and are only three months away from testing the vaccine on humans.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports researchers from Galilee Research Institute claimed that the vaccine they have been developing for the past four years could be modified for use in humans within three months.

    Announcing the breakthrough vaccine at a press conference, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Galilee Research Institute, David Zigdon said the vaccine it has been developing for the past four years has similar DNA structure in the virus that had spread from China.

    “There is a high urgency around the world to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus in humans, so we are working to expedite the development process and achieve an effective vaccine for the COVID-19 virus over the next 8-10 weeks and move to safety trials [in humans] within 90 days.

    “The vaccine developed by us for poultry is administered orally and the human vaccine offered by us is also expected to be administered orally” Zigdon said at the press conference.

    The Galilee Research Institute CEO noted that due to the urgent global need for the vaccine, the Institute is working around the clock with potential partners to help accelerate the research process in humans needed to complete the final product development and regulatory process.

    Prof. Dan Levanon, founder of Galilee Research Institute said that the duration of the vaccine’s development process is contingent upon health officials’ regulations.

    “Under these conditions, where the disease causes enormous damages as it worsens, I believe the regulations will be eased,” Levanon said.

    Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Science and Technology, Ofir Akunis has welcomed the researchers’ breakthrough.

    “Had [the vaccine] had to be subjected to the usual regulations, it would have taken several years. Of course, without risking human life. I hope and believe there will be further progress soon,” he said at the press conference.

    Akunis also instructed the Director of the Ministry to promote any possible collaborations that would expedite the production of the vaccine in humans.

  • Europa: Ludogorets players wear medical masks in Milan

    Europa: Ludogorets players wear medical masks in Milan

    Ludogorets players wore medical face masks and gloves when they arrived in Italy for their Europa League match against Inter Milan.

    The last-32 second-leg tie will be played behind closed doors at the San Siro because of the threat of coronavirus spreading.

    Eleven towns in northern Italy are in lockdown after the outbreak.

    Antonio Conte’s Inter hold a 2-0 advantage over the Bulgarian team from last week’s first-leg clash.

    Inter were one of four Serie A clubs to postpone their game last weekend with more league matches affected this weekend.

    Five games, including Juventus versus Inter in Turin on Sunday, will be played without any fans.

    A number of Italian sporting events have been affected and on Wednesday it was announced that Ireland’s men’s and women’s Six Nations games against Italy in Dublin on 7 and 8 March would be postponed because of the virus.

    Authorities have confirmed more than 300 cases and 12 deaths in Italy, the most recent a 70-year-old Lombardy resident who died after being taken to intensive care in Parma. Four children in the country have also been infected.

  • BREAKING: Saudi Arabia suspends pilgrimage to Holy Land

    Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned travellers from coming to the kingdom for either Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, or to visit the Prophet’s Mosque in the city of Medina, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry made this known in a statement on Thursday.

    “Suspending entry to the Kingdom for the purpose of Umrah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque temporarily,” the ministry said.

    Riyadh also banned travellers with tourist visas issued by countries “in which the spread of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a danger, according to the criteria determined by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom,” the ministry added.

    The Umrah, or “minor pilgrimage,” can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Hajj, which is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Every Muslim should make a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Mecca at least once during their lifetime.

    As of Thursday, over 82,000 people worldwide have contracted COVID-19, of whom 2,800 have died and more than 32,000 have recovered.

  • Reddington Hospital patient who tested negative for Coronavirus to be retested

    Reddington Hospital patient who tested negative for Coronavirus to be retested

    The Chinese national who presented ill to a Reddington Hospital in Lagos State, and was tested negative for Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Thursday will be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a Chinese citizen (names withheld), who arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago presented sick to Reddington Hospital Ikeja, complaining of fever, sparking Covid-19 scare.

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health confirmed the Chinese national has been isolated at Mainland Hospital, and that his blood samples were taken for investigation, which later came out negative.

    However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said if a suspected case is confirmed, appropriate management will commence but if negative, the patient would still be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General of NCDC stated this on Thursday in Abuja, saying that the result of the 11 suspected cases of Covid-19 tested in Nigeria is negative.

    Ihekweazu reassured Nigerians of their safety against Covid-19, revealing that the tests were conducted by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory and Virology Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    “Four laboratories in Nigeria have the capacity to test for the coronavirus. These laboratories are within the NCDC laboratory network and are in contact 24/7. If a new case is confirmed, it will be reported accordingly.

    “We are in close communication with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and other states, and will inform the public once there’s a confirmed case in Nigeria,” the Director General said.

    Ihekweazu assured Nigerians that the NCDC would continue to closely monitor the outbreak globally.

    “We urge Nigerians to disregard rumours and discourage further spread. NCDC will inform the public if a case is reported in Nigeria,” he said.

    The NCDC boss said that when a high-risk traveller with symptoms arrived in the country, he/she would be taken from the airport to an isolation centre and samples would be collected immediately for testing.

    “If confirmed, appropriate management will commence but if negative, he/she would still be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    “When a high risk traveller that is not symptomatic comes into the country, the person is advised to stay at home for 14 days and report immediately if he/she develops symptoms.

    “Furthermore, his contact details are obtained and an official is attached to him/her to monitor him daily for 14 days to see if he develops symptoms.

    “If he develops symptoms within 14 days of arrival in the country, samples would be collected from him for confirmation.

    “If confirmed he/she goes into our isolation centre where he would be managed appropriately,” he explained.

    Ihekweazu described a high-risk traveller as someone who has had contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case or was travelling from China, particularly Wuhan.

    The NCDC boss noted that the Chinese authorities have intensified measures to prevent exportation of Covid-19 such as screening travelers leaving China.

    “In Nigeria, the NCDC conducts daily epidemic intelligence gathering to monitor the spread of the outbreak,” he said.

    He said that the Government of Nigeria through NCDC is working very hard to be better prepared in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.

    He disclosed that NCDC in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) reviewed strategies to work together in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to ensure that Nigerians are well informed.

    Besides, he said NCDC has just concluded a training of case management physicians from the five states with international airports in Nigeria; namely Kano, Enugu, Lagos, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory.

    “This is to build their capacity to manage severe respiratory disease cases,” he said.

    Furthermore, Ihekweazu said that NCDC had revised the national case definition in line with changes in the epidemiology of the outbreak.

    “With ongoing local transmission in countries outside China, the focus had been expanded to include travelers from other countries.”

    He added that with the support of World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDC would carry out a two-day simulation exercise to assess its capacity to respond in the event of an outbreak.

    “This process will allow for a review of existing gaps and rapid implementation of interventions to fill these gaps,” he explained.

    Ihekweazu said it was important for Nigerians to understand where they fit in national preparedness for infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

    He added that health security is a responsibility cut out for all Nigerians, including individuals, healthcare workers, government and the private sector.

    The NCDC director general however appealed to Nigerians to stay away from fake news, pointing out that it is causing panic, harm and lead to waste of resources.

    Ihekweazu therefore advised Nigerians to share only information from verified sources, while the NCDC would continue to keep them informed.

  • JUST IN: Test result of sick Chinese national suspected of Coronavirus out

    JUST IN: Test result of sick Chinese national suspected of Coronavirus out

    The Lagos State Government has said the Chinese citizen who presented at the Reddington Hospital, Ikeja sick on Wednesday and suspected to have Coronavirus, codenamed Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), has tested negative to the disease.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Commissioner for Health of Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who made this known through a press statement noted that the likelihood of Coronavirus infection in this particular patient was very low and that the conclusion of investigations and sophisticated testing confirms that there is no case of Covid-19 in Lagos as of now.

    “I would like to reassure Lagosians that our vigilance levels are very high and we are putting more measures in place to safeguard the State,” Prof. Abayomi said.

    While giving details of the investigation, the Lagos Health Commissioner explained that the Ministry of Health’s attention was drawn to the suspected Covid-19 case early enough.

    “From our investigation, we gathered that a Chinese citizen who arrived in Nigeria from China 7 weeks ago presented at the Hospital yesterday complaining about fever.

    “The hospital in keeping with the advisory we earlier issued, correctly maintained a high index of suspicion, isolated the patient and reported the case to Lagos State Ministry of Health.

    “We took up the case, transferred the patient to the State Isolation Unit at the Mainland Hospital, which is our specialised infectious disease hospital. His blood samples were taken to the Virology laboratory for analysis and it came out negative,” the Commissioner said.

    The test result of the blood samples of the Chinese national taken came out negative, dousing Coronavirus scare in the State.

  • BREAKING: Trump says America ready for coronavirus, boasts vaccine coming along ‘rapidly,’

    BREAKING: Trump says America ready for coronavirus, boasts vaccine coming along ‘rapidly,’

    As fears spread of a possible coronavirus outbreak in the U.S, President Trump was addressing the nation in a Wednesday evening news conference at the White House to discuss how his administration was handling the virus threat — saying that a vaccine is being developed “rapidly” and “coming along very well.”

    However, Anthony Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said later at the press conference that a vaccine would not be applicable to the epidemic for a “year to a year-and-a-half,” due to delays from testing, development, production, and distribution.

    The freewheeling and sometimes confusing press conference marked a rare appearance by the president in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, as he usually takes questions from reporters outside the White House while his Marine One helicopter prepares for takeoff.

    “It’s really nice to talk to you without the helicopter,” a reporter shouted at one point, as others laughed and applauded. (“We’ll do more of ’em,” Trump said after some journalists asked him to “come back” to the briefing room in the future.)

    Some of Trump’s targets remained the same, despite the new setting. In particular, the president excoriated both the Federal Reserve and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, calling her “incompetent” after she challenged his response to the virus and said he couldn’t be trusted on the matter.

    “I think she’s not thinking about the country; instead of making a statement like that, where I’ve been beating her routinely at everything … she should be saying we should work together,” Trump said.

    The president announced he was putting Vice President Mike Pence “in charge” of coronavirus prevention efforts, effective immediately. The White House had reportedly considered naming a virus czar to be the point person on the disease.

    “Because of all we’ve done, the risk to the American people remains very low,” Trump said. “We’re ready to adapt, and we’re ready to do whatever we have to.”

    The president revealed that of the “15” Americans confirmed to have the virus, eight have “returned to their homes to stay in their homes until fully recovered, one is in the hospital, and five have fully recovered; and one is, uh, we think in pretty good shape, and is in between hospital and going home.” Trump later said the person was “pretty sick and hopefully will recover.”

    So far, there have been 60 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. in total. That figure includes individuals who have been repatriated to the United States, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar later clarified at the podium. 15 people were in the initial set of cases, three came more from evacuation flights, and 42 from the Diamond Princess ship that was quarantined by Japanese health authorities earlier this month.

  • Coronavirus scare: Lagos health ministry opens up on sick Chinese national

    Coronavirus scare: Lagos health ministry opens up on sick Chinese national

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health has said the Chinese national who presented Reddington Hospital Ikeja sick has been isolated at Mainland Hospital, and that result of blood samples taken for investigation is being awaited.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a Chinese national (names withheld), who arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago presented to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja complaining of fever in the early hours of Wednesday, sparking Coronavirus scare.

    Following the incident, the Lagos State Ministry of Health assured that vigilance levels are high, and that more measures are being put in place to safeguard the State to forestall outbreak of the Coronavirus disease.

    “We are currently investigating. Patient Isolated at Mainland Hospital. Blood samples taken for investigation. We await result… there is no confirmed case of Coronavirus in Lagos as at today.

    “We would like to reassure Lagosians that our vigilance levels are high and we are putting more measures in place to safe guard our State,” the Lagos State Ministry of Health tweeted.

    Meanwhile, Group Medical Director of Reddington Hospital Group, Dr Olutunde Lalude had said standard operating procedure for potential coronavirus patients was maintained in isolating the Chinese national.

    Dr. Lalude, who assured that there has been no confirmed case of coronavirus at any of the branches of the Reddington hospital as of today 26 February 2020, said the Chinese national was immediately isolated as a precautionary measure.

    “In the early hours of Wednesday 26 February 2020, a Chinese national presented to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja complaining of fever.

    “Following standard protocol it was ascertained that he had arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago and had not been in contact with anyone else who might have coronavirus.

    “As a precautionary measure, staff immediately isolated him in accordance with the hospital’s standard operating procedure for potential coronavirus patients,” he said.

    According to the medical director, the State public health authorities were promptly informed and involved.

    “Despite the risk being assessed to be relatively low according to the currently available science regarding incubation period, blood samples were taken using full prescribed precautions,” Lalude said.

    He said the blood samples were sent to the Lagos State authorised virology laboratory for analysis and diagnosis.

    “The results of the tests will be available tomorrow. The patient has been transferred to the Infections Disease Hospital while the results are awaited.

    “It is to be emphasised that the risk is thought to be low and so far patient has not been diagnosed with Coronavirus disease,” Lalude said.

    He stressed that the Reddington team acted in a highly professional manner and in absolute compliance with international standards.

  • JUST IN: Coronavirus scare hits Lagos State

    JUST IN: Coronavirus scare hits Lagos State

    A Chinese national (names withheld), who arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago, has presented sick to a hospital in Lagos State, sparking Coronavirus scare.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Chinese national presented to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja complaining of fever in the early hours of Wednesday.

    https://twitter.com/TheStellaMorah/status/1232708023166132224?s=19

    https://twitter.com/thou_jhoe/status/1232682551132684291?s=19

    According to Dr Olutunde Lalude, Group Medical Director, Reddington Hospital Group, the Chinese national was immediately isolated in accordance with the hospital’s standard operating procedure for potential coronavirus patients as a precautionary measure.

    Dr. Lalude assured that there has been no confirmed case of coronavirus at any of the branches of the Reddington hospital as of today 26 February 2020.

    “In the early hours of Wednesday 26 February 2020, a Chinese national presented to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja complaining of fever.

    “Following standard protocol it was ascertained that he had arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago and had not been in contact with anyone else who might have coronavirus.

    “As a precautionary measure, staff immediately isolated him in accordance with the hospital’s standard operating procedure for potential coronavirus patients,” he said.

    According to the medical director, the State public health authorities were promptly informed and involved.

    “Despite the risk being assessed to be relatively low according to the currently available science regarding incubation period, blood samples were taken using full prescribed precautions,” Lalude said.

    He said the blood samples were sent to the Lagos State authorised virology laboratory for analysis and diagnosis.

    “The results of the tests will be available tomorrow. The patient has been transferred to the Infections Disease Hospital while the results are awaited.

    “It is to be emphasised that the risk is thought to be low and so far patient has not been diagnosed with Coronavirus disease,” Lalude said.

    He stressed that the Reddington team acted in a highly professional manner and in absolute compliance with international standards.

  • Brazil confirms first coronavirus case in South America

    Brazil confirms first coronavirus case in South America

    A Sao Paulo resident who recently travelled to Italy has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Brazil’s Health Ministry said, in the first confirmed case in South America on Wednesday.

    “The case of coronavirus has been confirmed.

    “The test carried out by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz came back with a positive result

    “ Thus, Brazil has its first confirmed case of the disease,’’ Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said at a news conference.

    The 61-year-old coronavirus patient is currently under quarantine in his home and 30 of his family members have been placed under observation, the ministry said.

    In addition to the confirmed case, there are 20 other suspected cases under investigation.

    Fifty-nine suspected cases have already been ruled out.

  • Another African country confirms first case of Coronavirus

    Another African country confirms first case of Coronavirus

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) has come to establish presence in Africa as the Algerian authorities on Tuesday announced the country’s first case.

    The patient is identified as an Italian citizen who arrived in the country on February 17.

    “One case was confirmed positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), out of two suspected cases (both) of Italian nationality,” the North African country’s health ministry is quoted by media reports.

    The infected person is said to have been quarantined.

    The health ministry assured that it had reinforced its monitoring and surveillance systems at all points of entry into the country.

    Egypt also, on February 14, announced its first case of the deadly disease which broke out in the Wuhan city of China in December 2019.