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Tag: Coronavirus

  • Pope inaugurates reopening of St. Peter’s Basilica, as public masses resume in Italy

    Pope inaugurates reopening of St. Peter’s Basilica, as public masses resume in Italy

    Pope Francis inaugurated the full reopening of St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday and Catholic churches held public Masses for the first time in two months in the latest easing of Italy’s coronavirus restrictions.

    Francis said a private Mass in a side chapel where St. John Paul II is buried to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the late Polish pope’s birth.

    The basilica, which on Friday underwent a sanitising to make it as cornavirus-free as possible, later opened to the public for Masses by priests on other side altars after the pope had left.

    Signs in English and Italian told those entering that they had to keep at least 1.5 metres (five feet) apart, wear masks and sanitise their hands.

    Churches throughout Italy began holding Masses under strict new guidelines worked out between the country’s bishops and government.

    The faithful will have to wear masks. Priests can celebrate most of the Mass without masks but they will have to wear one, as well as gloves, when they distribute the communion wafer.

    The communion is to be given in the hand and not the mouth.

    On Sunday, the pope urged Italians to observe the new norms “in order to defend each other’s health and the health of the people.”

    But, according to an Italian reporter inside the basilica on Monday morning, at least one priest at a side altar did not wear gloves or a mask while giving communion.

    Technically, St. Peter’s has remained open during the Italian lockdown which began in early March, although only for private prayer.

    Only very few people have entered because of increased security to avoid gatherings in the square outside.

    The Vatican has not yet announced when the pope will say a Mass from the main altar before the public.

    His services since early March have been held in an almost empty chapel in his residence and streamed live on the internet or on television.

    The Vatican has said that when St. Peter’s opened for large Masses on Sundays and holy days, thermal scanners would be used to check the temperatures of those going inside.

  • COVID-19 lockdown: Lagos lists conditions to reopen businesses, worship centres

    COVID-19 lockdown: Lagos lists conditions to reopen businesses, worship centres

    The Lagos State Government on Sunday renewed hopes of reopening businesses and worship centres that had been under lock and key for over five weeks now as one of the early measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] disease.

    However, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his address on Monday said the business owners and religious centres must meet conditions set by the government.

    The governor noted that pending when those conditions are met, “the status quo will remain.”

    The state, which is the epicenter of the virus in the country, has been under lockdown and lately restrictions and curfew, to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

    The governor spoke at the Government House in Marina during an update on the state of affairs with the management of COVID-19.

    He said: “We are reviewing and considering how the phased unlocking will happen. If we see huge level of compliance, then it can happen in the next two to three weeks. If not, it could take a month or two months. It is until we are sure all of these players are ready to conform to our guidelines,” the governor said

    From this week, he added, work would proceed fast towards reopening of the state’s economy adding that the government would embark on what he described as “Register to open.”

    Meanwhile, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, (LCCI) has unveiled the report of a survey it conducted on the effect of the lockdown on the economy of the state.

    The report indicates that 81per cent of businesses have been “severely affected” by the COVID-19 lockdown with a mere 17 per cent indicating moderate impact on their business.

    Sanwo-Olu, who announced that the 10 Government House workers who tested positive for Coronavirus had all been discharged and back at their duty posts, further explained how the reopening process would be.

    “We are at a level where we are reviewing the other arms of the economy. In the coming days, we will be starting what we call Register-to-Open, which means all players in the restaurant business, event centres, entertaiment, malls and cinemas will go through a form of re-registration and space management.

    “There is a regulation that will be introduced to supervise this move. We will be coming to their facilities to assess their level of readiness for a future opening. I don’t know when that opening will happen in the weeks ahead, but we want these businesses to begin to tune themselves to the reality of COVID-19 with respect to how their work spaces need to look like.

    “For us, it is not to say they should re-open fully tomorrow or any time; there has been a process guiding the re-opening. We will be mandating Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to begin the enumeration process and the agencies will be communicating with all relevant businesses and houses in the days ahead. I must, however, caution that this should not be misinterpreted as a licence for full opening; it is certainly not. The State’s economy is not ready for that now.

    “Similarly, places of worship we would be going and working with them as much as possible to see their level of preparedness ensuring that we keep as much space, in the event that we will be unlocking them in future”

    Although the governor did not give specific time for the lifting of the lockdown, he however said it could be two, three weeks to one month time.

    He said there would be a gradual phasing off of the lockdown because the economy of the state cannot be shut down for too long; but that “there has to be a process towards unlocking the whole place.”

    Business hitherto excluded from the easing of the lockdown in the past one week, like hospitality, events, entertainment, malls etc, will re-register to open, a process that will enable the government to ascertain their level of preparedness for reopening in a few weeks.

    The government, he said, will visit religious houses to determine their level of preparedness and compliance with social distancing regulation and use of facemask and other precautionary measures as the lockdown is being gradually phased out.

    Sanwo-Olu said officials from the LSSCLASEPA will be visiting restaurants, companies, religious houses to assess their level of readiness.

    “There is a regulation that will be introduced to supervise this move. We will be coming to their facilities to assess their level of readiness for a future opening. I don’t know when that opening will happen in the weeks ahead, but we want these businesses to begin to tune themselves to the reality of COVID-19 with respect to how their work spaces need to look like. “For us, it is not to say they should re-open fully tomorrow or any time; there has been a process guiding the re-opening.

    According to him, the government had seen some encouraging levels of compliance at the open and food markets which needs to be improved upon while the contrary is the case with the yellow buses and interstate movements which he said the government would be looking into.

    Sanwo-Olu said his government has approved special preference for the elderly of 60 years and above, beginning from this week, to be attended to in the banking halls, shopping malls and open shop between the hours of 9am to 10.30am before others will be allowed in to transact their businesses.

  • Senior police officer absconds after testing positive for Coronavirus in Abuja

    Senior police officer absconds after testing positive for Coronavirus in Abuja

    A Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, is on the run in Abuja after testing positive for Coronavirus.

    Report had it that Police authorities and officials of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have been looking for the police officer since Friday.

    The CSP (names withheld) attached to 21 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Nyanya, Abuja, was billed to be evacuated from his residence at Garki Barracks around 2pm on Friday.

    The officer was said to have been under quarantine and treatment at the National Hospital Abuja Isolation Centre after he tested positive.

    It was however not clear how and why the senior officer left the hospital and returned to his home where he was said to have continued self-treatment with the help of his friends and colleagues until NCDC officials came for him.

    According to a report by The Nation, the health workers were led by policemen from Garki Division to the officer’s residence but he refused all entreaties to open the door and follow them.

    It was reported the officer and his family members were seen peeping through the window while the evacuators made unsuccessful efforts to convince him to follow them.

    “He was later seen driving out of the barracks in his car to an unknown destination. His mobile phone has remained unreachable.

    “Surveillance teams have been set up to trail and take him into custody. Police medical team has alerted and on standby,” said a source.

  • Bauchi doctor infects 10 family members with Coronavirus

    A Nigerian doctor has infected 10 of his family members with the deadly Coronavirus in Bauchi State, including his nine-year-old son.

    Dr. Rilwanu Muhammed, Chairman, State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA), on Sunday said though nine of the family were recently discharged, but the 9-year-old son remained in isolation as he is yet to recover.

    Mohammed said the doctor might have contracted the virus while treating COVID-19 patients but he refused to allow himself to be treated thereby exposing his family members to the deadly virus.

    ”The doctor and nine of his family members were recently discharged but the last child, the 9-year-old son is still in isolation. When the doctor got infected, instead of allowing other doctors to take care of him , he went home with it. He ought to have placed himself on a sick role and allow others to treat him, you’re a doctor doesn’t mean you can treat yourself of covid-19, ” he warned.

    Mohammed , however, advised infected health workers to submit themselves for treatment, adding that no fewer than 24 health workers had tested positive so far for the novel virus, with 17 from Azare community in Katagum Local Government Area while seven were infected in Bauchi Local Government.

    He identified denials by infected patients as one of the challenges health workers were facing in the state, adding that health workers most times might have had contact with an infected patient before knowing his or her COVID-19 status.

  • Huge, worrisome figures in Lagos, Kano as Nigeria records 338 new Coronavirus cases

    Huge, worrisome figures in Lagos, Kano as Nigeria records 338 new Coronavirus cases

    Nigeria has been hit with 338 new cases of Coronavirus, with Lagos and Kano recording serious spikes in infections.

    In the figures released by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Sunday, Nigeria now has 5,959 confirmed cases of Coronavirus.

    Lagos recorded a spike on Sunday, with 177 new infections, while Kano ramp up 64 new cases, with FCT, raking in 21 fresh cases.

    Also, Rivers recorded 16 new cases; Plateau, 14; Oyo, 11; Katsina, nine cases; Jigawa and Kaduna, four cases each, while Abia, Bauchi and Borno have three cases each.

    Others are: Gombe, Akwa Ibom and Delta recording two cases each while Ondo, Kebbi and Sokoto have one case each.

    The nation recorded six new Coronavirus deaths on Sunday, taking its total to 182 deaths.

    However, a total of 1,594 patients who survived the disease have been discharged.

    How States Stand

    177-Lagos
    64-Kano
    21-FCT
    16-Rivers
    14-Plateau
    11-Oyo
    9-Katsina
    4-Jigawa
    4-Kaduna
    3-Abia
    3-Bauchi
    3-Borno
    2-Gombe
    2-Akwa Ibom
    2-Delta
    1-Ondo
    1-Kebbi
    1-Sokoto

  • COVID-19: Again! Kaduna Govt shut down Saturday markets, relaxes movement restrictions

    COVID-19: Again! Kaduna Govt shut down Saturday markets, relaxes movement restrictions

    …one month lockdown order expires Tuesday May 26

    Kaduna State Government says Saturday will no longer be included in the initial two-day window of the restriction of movement order.

    Managing Director of Kaduna Markets Development and Management Company(KMDMC), Hafiz Bayero disclosed this on Sunday in a press statement made available to TNG. Bayero said that Wednesdays and Thursdays are now the two-day window which the restriction of movement will be relaxed.

    He stressed that the temporary neighbourhood markets are to operate from 10am to 4pm on the two days on which the restriction of movement is relaxed.

    ‘’Residents will be free to visit their neighbourhood markets on 20th and 21st May 2020 to purchase food and other essential items. This adjustment means that no market will be open next Saturday,’’ he says.

    The Managing Director promises that KMDMC will make all the necessary arrangements for the orderly and safe conduct of trading activities at all the designated temporary neighbourhood markets.’’

    Bayero also commended the adherence to the safety measures against Covid-19 by traders and customers in the markets.

    He further called for the continuous compliance with the the use of facemasks and temperature checks in the the markets. He added that physical distancing and other public health protocols should be complied with. “… the company warned those traders that are trying to turn the streets nearby the closed main markets into illegal shops to desist,’’ the statement added.

    Governor Nasir Elrufai imposed a One month Lockdown down order in the state in April which is expect to expire on Tuesday 26th May, 2020.

  • Covid-19: As soon as lockdown is over, go out and start winning souls – Adeboye

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged Christians to win more souls for Christ during and after the lockdown.

    Adeboye stated this on Sunday during a live broadcast to his members on Dove TV.

    The cleric said every Christian should be committed to soul winning to enjoy God’s blessing.

    Adeboye said, “Some people are already getting consumed by freight because of the lockdown. The flood will come sooner or later. My advice for you is to be wise

    “As soon as the lockdown is over. You better spread your wings and win more souls for christ.

    “When you rededicate yourself to soul winning, you will begin to enjoy all round blessings and success .”

  • Akwa Ibom Govt. intercepts 68 suspected COVID-19 patients at border

    Akwa Ibom Government says it has intercepted 68 suspected COVID-19 patients at the border, invading the state.

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel made the disclosure when he played host to State Caucus of the National Assembly in Uyo on Sunday.

    According to the governor, they tried to bring in about 68 of them. So you can imagine if they were allowed to come in.

    “We got the information on time, so I used the police to intercept them; apart from that, I think so far, the curve has decline drastically,” he said.

    “The intelligence gathering approach is deployed by Akwa Ibom Government to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The approach has paid off for the state as the technique has enabled us foil the attempt of 68 suspected COVID-19 patients invading the state,” Emmanuel said.

    The National Assembly members were in the state for a tour of the newly constructed Isolation Centre at Ituk Mbang.

    The Isolation Centre was for Quarantine, Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases located within the premises of Methodist General Hospital, Ituk Mbang in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

    The governor said that it was gathered that the suspects mainly from distant states were liaising with their collaborators within the state to come into the state.

    Emmanuel noted that they wanted to take advantage of the robust healthcare system designed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

    According to him, the graph of the spread of the virus has taken a downward curve indicating a sharp decline in recorded cases of the virus in the state.

    “I have text messages where people were trying to communicate with their colleagues here and those colleagues encouraged them to move into the state with the assurance that people are better treated here,” the governor said.

    He also said the suspects attempted to enter the state through unconventional borders and were apprehended.

    “Yesterday, we got a call from one village in Etinan Local Government Area that somebody has sneaked into the state.

    “People even enter through water and when they come in, they declare themselves to be having symptoms so we can pick them up for treatment because they hear testimonies and even calling people to confirm.

    “Our Isolation Centre should be as good as where any national assembly person should stay. So, we have tried to make everybody comfortable,” Emmanuel said.

    He decried attempts by people trying to invade the state, despite agreement reached at the Governors’ Forum that inter-state borders should be closed to passengers’ movements in the meantime as a measure to limit the spread of the virus.

    “In terms of boundaries we are observing what every state in Nigeria is observing, it was agreed at the governor’s forum that we should restrict inter-state passengers movement for now until announced otherwise.

    “So, let nobody misunderstand anybody, we don’t want people to start loading luxury buses and transmit the virus, even with that we are still having issues because of our long shoreline,” he said.

    He, however, assured that the state government would continue to do more towards ensuring a better and robust post COVID-19 economy and medicare in the state.

    Sen. Christopher Ekpeyong, representing Akwa Ibom North West, who spoke on behalf of the Lawmakers, said the state representatives in the National Assembly were proud of the State Governor and commended his drive towards mitigating the Coronavirus in the state.

    Ekpeyong, the leader of the delegation, expressed delight at the progress of work at the new Isolation Centre.

    He commended the proactive disposition of the governor in healthcare matters, stressing that God placed him on the saddle for times like this as he had been imbued to salvage the state from the the pandemic.

    The Lawmakers donated N5 million to the State COVID-19 Management Committee to help in the fight against the spread of the pandemic.

  • Kebbi discharges 5 additional COVID-19 patients

    Kebbi discharges 5 additional COVID-19 patients

    Kebbi State Government says it has discharged five more COVID-19 patients, bringing the number of patients so far discharged from the Kebbi Medical Center, Kalgo to 16.

    Malam Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser to Gov. Abubakar Bagudu on Media, disclosed this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

    Sarki said the state’s Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Jaafar Mohammed made the disclosure at a COVID-19 routine briefing in Birnin Kebbi.

    The commissioner, who was also the Chairman of the State Taskforce Committee on COVID-19, said the discharged patients tested negative twice to the virus.

    While commending the efforts of health personnel in the state, he also appreciated the state’s Taskforce team and other stakeholders for their resilience towards containing spread of the pandemic in the state.

    “I must put it on record that the Taskforce, health team and other related officers have been working tirelessly to effectively control the spread of the pandemic,” he said.

  • COVID-19: Kebbi approves safety allowances for frontline health personnel

    COVID-19: Kebbi approves safety allowances for frontline health personnel

    Gov. Abubakar Atiku-Bagudu of Kebbi State has approved the payment of operational safety allowances for frontline health workers, working round-the-clock to check coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat in the state.

    Malam Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser to the governor, on Media announced this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

    “These allowances are structured to enhance the pay for the frontline health workers as a light compensation to the risks involved in handling the patients infected with COVID-19.

    “The affected workers include public health officers, medical officers, nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists.

    “Others are disease surveillance and notification officers, directors of PHCs in the LGAs and specialised medical consultants,’’ Sarki quoted Alhaji Jaafar Mohammed, Commissioner for Health, making the announcement on behalf of the governor.

    Mohammed, who doubled as Chairman, state Task Force Committee on COVID-19, gave a breakdown of the categories of the allowances.

    He said consultants and medical officers would receive N20,000 and N15,000 daily respectively.

    “Nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists will receive N10,000, daily while ambulance drivers, cleaners and security personnel will receive N5,000 daily,’’ the commissioner said.

    He said that occupational safety allowances have been graded according to the level of risks involved.

    He said the governor also approved motivational incentives for the task force team members and other frontline health workers making tireless efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

    “Each of the task force members will get N250,000, while the chairman will receive N500,000.

    “Consultants will receive N300,000, while medical officers, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and nurses at the isolation centres will each be given N250,000.

    “Also, medical officers at hospitals trained on infection prevention, control and case management would each receive N200,000 while nurses at general hospitals trained on infection prevention, control and case management will also collect N150,000 each.

    Other categories of officers, including epidemiologists and surveillance officers, disease surveillance and notification officers (DSNO), directors of PHC at the state and local government levels would receive N150,000.