TheNewsGuru

Tag: Coronavirus

  • U.S. Vice President Pence self-isolates after press secretary tests positive for coronavirus

    U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is self-isolating away from the White House, Reuters reported, quoting a Bloomberg reporter.

    This came two days after his press secretary, Katie Miller was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

    Pence was absent at a meeting on Saturday between Trump and military leaders at White House, Bloomberg reporter, Jennifer Jacobs further reported.

    The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    But Pence’s spokesman, Devin O’Malley said the VP would report to the White House on Monday.

    Pence “has tested negative every single day and plans to be at the White House tomorrow,” O’Malley, said.

    Pence was not the only one on self-isolation on Sunday.

    Anthony Fauci, a high-profile member of the coronavirus response team, Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn, were also in self-quarantine on Saturday.

    If Republicans President Trump and VP Pence were both to become incapacitated, Democratic House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi would assume presidential duties under U.S. law.

  • Five La Liga players test positive for COVID-19

    LaLiga has confirmed that five players have tested positive for coronavirus.

    All five unnamed players – across the leagues top two divisions – are asymptomatic and in the final phase of the disease but will now go into quarantine and be unable to return to group training until they have had two negative tests.

    The Spanish league resumed group training this week with a view to resuming their league in June.

    A LaLiga statement read: “After completing the medical tests on the minimum essential personnel referred by the clubs to start training, some cases of COVID-19 have been detected.

    “Specifically, between the clubs of LaLiga Santander and La Liga SmartBank, five positive cases have been detected in players, all of them asymptomatic and in the final phase of the disease.”

    The statement added: “As planned, the next steps with people who have taken a stand for COVID-19 are: To remain in quarantine in their homes, carrying out the same individual physical activity that they have been doing until now, following the instructions of the club, for those who are footballers.

    “In the next few days they will be tested again for the Covid-19 and, after obtaining two negative results, they will be able to join the training sessions at their club’s facilities.”

    “In addition, LaLiga will offer people who live with those affected the possibility of also doing screening tests.”

    Elsewhere in England, a third Brighton player has tested positive for coronavirus and the unnamed player will go into 14-day isolation while he recovers from the virus.

    Two other players, whose names have also not been revealed by the club, contracted the virus earlier in the pandemic, but are understood to have since recovered.

  • Despite COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 still has lots to offer – Kemi Adetiba

    Despite COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 still has lots to offer – Kemi Adetiba

    Filmmaker and music director Kemi Adetiba who is best known for her movies Wedding Party and King of Boys has said she believes the year 2020 still holds many promises unlike most people in the world who have written off the year as a year of total waste with Coronavirus pandemic.

    Adetiba made her opinion known through her Twitter and Instagram handles a few days ago.

    She tweeted, “Saw a tweet where person wrote they had canceled their goals for 2020 and replaced them with simply “staying alive.” I think 2020 still has more to offer. My dad once said to me “What you lose on the stretch, you gain on the curve.” I pray there is more once we round this bend.”

    The award-winning movie director went on to put up a long epistle on her Instagram page talking about the same thing. She wrote;

    “I think 2020 still has more to offer. There is no pretending it is increasingly becoming harder and harder to remain positive in these peculiar times. It is very natural to want to simply throw your hands in the air and give permission for the year to throw you anywhere and anyhow it wills.

    “I know it seems unfair to be forced in the position where you have to choose between hunger or health for both yourself and your family, but alas, here we are and there is no running from it.”

    She sermonised that lamenting about the situation will not make it disappear, and advise we should give it whatever it takes to live our normal lives.

    “Blinking hard or “woe is me” laments will not make it disappear. But if this THING will not play fair, then neither will we. The only thing sure about LIFE is CHANGE. And as long as you have breath… There is always HOPE!!! No one would have predicted an invisible virus would come shut down the entire world for half the year. This is what you call “humbling!!” But as long as the world is still spinning, we have an obligation to keep pushing,” she added.

    She prophesied that when things open up it will be survival of the fittest and only those that spent time warming up, prepping, and evolving will gather the most nuts in the end.

    Kemi Adetiba is known for many things in the media and entertainment world, but her two films “Wedding Party” and “King of Boys” have been rather extraordinary.

    In 2018, King of Boys made history as the biggest ever opening week for a non-comedy Nollywood film before grossing over N245 million in box office worldwide.

  • BREAKING: Coronavirus kills Sokoto Commissioner for Land, Housing

    BREAKING: Coronavirus kills Sokoto Commissioner for Land, Housing

    Sokoto’s Commissioner for Land and Housing, Surajo Gatawa is dead.

    According to reports Gatawa died on Sunday night and his funeral prayers had been scheduled for 7pm at his residence at Sama Road, opposite “Babban Tanki” Sokoto.

    Meanwhile, relatives, friends and associate of Gatawa have all began to send their condolence on popular social network, Twitter.

    The late Sokoto Commissioner was among the 26 commissioners Aminu Tambuwal, the governor, appointed in November 2018.

    He first served as commissioner of science and technology but was redeployed to the ministry of lands and housing.

    This is the second time in three days that Tambuwal would lose someone close to him. Haruna Usman, the governor’s uncle, died on Thursday.

  • COVID-19: Bauchi Govt. announces total lockdown in 3 LGAs

    Gov. Bala Mohammad of Bauchi State, on Sunday, announced total lockdown in three local government areas to curtail the community transmission of the new coronavirus disease in the state.

    The three local government areas to be locked down included, Katagum, Giade and Zaki.

    Mohammed told a news conference in Bauchi that the decision was as a result of the high rate of community transmission of the COVID-19 in the LGAs.

    He said that the lockdown, that will last for 10 days, would enable the state government to embark on contact tracing and establish a very robust administration of managing the situation.

    “Just yesterday, some tests were returned for some areas in Bauchi State, especially Azare, the headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area, Giade and some other parts of the state.

    “We discovered that we have 44 new cases, 27 of them from Azare and about seven from Giade.

    “We discovered that this is as a result of community transmission.

    “Those who brought the disease have started spreading it.

    “We are, therefore, establishing and enforcing a total lockdown on Azare town (Katagum Local Government), Giade Local Government and Zaki Local Government.

    “This is because most of the people there are very close to Kano and Hadejia in Jigawa.

    “So, we are locking down these three LGAs for 10 days to enable us to trace, quarantine the people found to have the virus and establish a very robust administration of managing the situation,’’ Mohammad said.

    The governor, who announced that the total lockdown would take effect from Tuesday, May 12, explained that during the period, the areas would be decontaminated with chemical spraying.

    He also said that the state would initiate massive COVID-19 testing of residents to determine those who were infected.

  • COVID-19: Nurse, admin officer test positive at FMC Abeokuta after death of policeman

    COVID-19: Nurse, admin officer test positive at FMC Abeokuta after death of policeman

    The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun, has confirmed the death of a policeman who tested positive for coronavirus in the facility.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Head, Public Relations and Information of the hospital, Segun Orisajo, on Sunday in Abeokuta.

    He also confirmed that two other members of staff of the hospital had tested positive for the virus.

    Orisajo, however, dispelled the report that a medical doctor in the facility had contracted the deadly virus.

    “The centre hereby confirms the case of three other patients, whose test results just returned positive.

    “Two of them are members of staff of this centre, that is, a nurse and an administrative staff, which brings the total number to five.

    “So far, no doctor in the centre has tested positive for coronavirus, contrary to some media reports.

    “The deceased, a policeman, presented himself to the general outpatients department of the hospital about three days ago and later died same day.

    “The result of his test returned this morning (Sunday) positive.

    “His body is being prepared for release to his family for burial in strict compliance with the World Health Organisation’s guidelines,” he said.

    Orisajo added that all the members of staff, who came in contact with the deceased, were currently on self-isolation.

  • COVID-19: Liberia Govt. extends lockdown, allows places of worship to reopen

    COVID-19: Liberia Govt. extends lockdown, allows places of worship to reopen

    The government of Liberia has extended the lockdown to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country for another 14 days, but following calls from religious leaders, has allowed places of worship to reopen.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the President of Liberia, Dr George Weah announced the additional extension of the measures on Friday, renewing the order for people to stay at home and observe the protocols that were originally instituted on April 10, 2020 by an additional two weeks.

    Health authorities have advised that in the wake of the unresolved crisis, the need for the measures to remain in place still is pertinent. However, because of the government’s decision to provide food aid during the period, corridors will be opened to enable food products move from one county to the next, while observing social distancing, face covering and other measures.

    Last month President Weah announced a State of Emergency to be observed throughout the Country. During this period, the joint security command and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia were ordered to enforce the different protocols that were pronounced.

    Amongst the measures were orders to quarantine the 15 counties; ensure that everyone in those counties stay at home for two weeks – with exceptions granted to designated essential persons and businesses; require all to be indoors by 3pm, and a directive to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to engage market leaders in order to make “satisfactory arrangements” for the operations of markets during the period.

    But following calls from religious leaders, President Weah has proposed that Churches, Mosques and worship centers consider the commencement of their operations beginning Sunday, May 17, 2020, with 25 percent of the regular worship-hour occupancy for each service, which will allow for social distancing and other protocols such as the use of face coverings, handwashing, etc.

    According to the President, Muslims can begin on the Friday before that with the observation of similar 25 percent of its normal occupancy and the observance of health regulations.

    “The security forces will be required to monitor these guidelines to make sure there is no violation,” President Weah said.

    The Government of Liberia also called on Liberians, led by religious leaders, to use the upcoming Unification Day celebration to pray for the Country to be healed from the virus.

  • COVID-19: Labour minister speaks against impending total lockdown in Nigeria

    COVID-19: Labour minister speaks against impending total lockdown in Nigeria

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has aired his personal opinion, speaking against any plan to further place the country on total lockdown as a measure to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Festus Keyamo took to his official Twitter handle on Sunday to say another total lockdown would be counterproductive, stressing that before defeating the Coronavirus, “we must learn to live with it”.

    Recall that following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Nigeria, the federal government has taken several measures to curtail it, including ordering restriction on movement, leading to a total lockdown of the nation.

    Recently, the total lockdown was eased with certain guidelines that must be strictly adhered to. But for the flouting of the guidelines, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTFCOVID19) has threatened to re-order a total lockdown.

    However, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment believes that another total lockdown will not do the country any good.

    “My personal view is that another total lockdown would be counterproductive. Before defeating the virus, we must learn to live with it all around us & practice the skills of avoiding it like a landmine. Practice makes perfect. We cannot perfect those skills by locking ourselves up,” he said.

    Earlier, Festus Keyamo had urged all workers to take charge of their environments and not assume that others take precautions against the virus.

    “Do not assume others have taken the necessary precautions. Do it yourself. The virus is not defeated. Every object, every surface is a suspect. Just imagine the virus is everywhere,” Keyamo charged.

  • TNG tips on how to survive economic stress in a lockdown economy

    TNG tips on how to survive economic stress in a lockdown economy

    As it is today, the middle class in Nigeria died in the 1980s when a teacher or a police sergeant can boastfully say I am a middle class Nigerian.

    Today what we have is the lower class and upper class Nigerians and the latest coinage of the vulnerable class.

    But in a situation like this the Covid-19 does not differentiate any class so there’s need for all Nigerians to belt up to beat the economic challenges laced with the pandemic.

    To survive this period of pay cuts, job loses there’s need to cut your material according to the length of your cloth.

    Cut off frivolities if you are the type that desires pleasure in downing six bottles of beer reduce it to zero level you won’t die rather you will live longer.

    Avoid all building projects for now,or any other ongoing Project until the economy is properly unlocked.

    Stock your house with enough foodstuff such as rice, garri, dried meat, fish, many tubers of yam, Amala flakes, tuo, beans, provisions, palm oil and groundnut oil.

    This is not the time to invest your money in anything at the moment, wait till everything settles down.

    Avoid unnecessary movement to and From as Much as Possible. Not a time to Pay for Visa application/Processing to any country.

    Ensure your priority at the moment should strictly be on essential and Unavoidable expenses.

    Subscribe to your DSTV, Gotv or any other cable Tv to keep your Family busy and make the home more accommodating.

    Financial requests from Friends and Family this period will be on the high side. Make sure you do not do more than you can so you don’t go stranded.

    Ensure there is enough Money as much as Possible in your Bank Account.

    This isn’t the Best time to Change Accommodation, Try as much as possible to wait till this is over.

    Reach out to less Privileged around you in your own little way…

    Most important: take time to pray for our nation and nations around the world.

    Avoid wastages in this period as there’s no room for that at this lockdown era.

    Stay safe!

  • COVID-19: Gov Okowa reacts to influx of people from Onitsha into Asaba, buckles up security

    COVID-19: Gov Okowa reacts to influx of people from Onitsha into Asaba, buckles up security

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has reacted to the influx of people from Onitsha into Asaba after the River Niger Bridge was opened following the ease of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown measures.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Okowa, after inspecting situations at the Niger Bridge boundary between Delta and Anambra on Saturday, urged security agencies and task force members to do more to avoid more cases of infection by COVID-19 due to unregulated movements.

    He warned that unauthorized vehicles entering the State in violation of restriction in inter-state movement ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari to stem spread of COVID-19 around the country would be impounded.

    Besides, the governor, who gave the warning while monitoring compliance of the order at some boundaries between Delta and neighbouring states, said that operators of such vehicles risked prosecution.

    He told newsmen after monitoring the situations at Niger Bridge boundary between Delta and Anambra and at Alifikede, the boundary community between the State and Edo on the Benin-Asaba highway, that he was satisfied with the level of compliance with the regulation.

    Okowa reminded security agents and members of the state’s Task Force at the boundaries that only vehicles carrying agricultural products and those on essential duties should be allowed into the state.

    He restated the state government’s seriousness at implementing the inter-state lockdown order, saying that he was aware that some persons were being moved from one part of the country to the other.

    He charged the security operatives and members of the task force to be vigilant so as to detect unauthorized movements and stop them from gaining entrance into the state.

    The governor said: “we have gone round to see the work the Committee and some of our youths are doing in enforcing the inter-state lockdown to ensure that it is being done properly the way it ought to be done.

    “There are certain protocols that have been allowed; inter-state movement of goods and services has been restricted to agricultural products and in that respect, only such vehicles are supposed to be moving from one state to another.

    “But, most Nigerians will always want to do whatever they wished; so, we have had to ensure that our 13 boundaries with other states are well secured.

    “We have various security agencies at every boundary and we have decided to add to them our community youths to help ensure that the processes set in place allow only those who are permitted by the order of the President or by the order of the state government to go through the state.

    “Every other vehicle is supposed to be turned back. We have come out today at the Head Bridge and the junction between Edo and Delta at the Alifikede boundaries.

    “A lot of work is being done by the task force set up in these two places and I am hopeful that this is same thing going on in the other eleven places.

    “The reason behind the inter-state lockdown is because we want to limit the number of persons moving across states so that we try as much as possible to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.

    “The numbers are already going up in Nigeria and there is the need for us to limit the spread and that’s the reason for the inter-state lockdown in terms of movement and I believe that it has been achieved at both sites that we visited today.”

    The governor commended the officials at the boundaries for their efforts at controlling movement at the boundary points and urged them to do more as the fight against COVID-19 needed the input of all.

    On the observed free movement of people from Asaba to Onitsha and others from Onitsha into Asaba on foot and motorcycles, he urged the security agencies and task force members to do more to avoid more cases of infection by COVID-19 due to unregulated movements.

    Okowa stressed the need for residents of the state to sustain the use of face mask, saying that it would help to reduce the level of infection.

    He affirmed that anyone caught without face mask in a public place would be quarantined in an isolation centre.

    He called on well-spirited Nigerians to assist the state government in the provision of more face masks for the people as government could not do it alone.

    The governor also reiterated the call on residents to practise physical distancing, regular wearing of face mask, routine washing of hands with running water and soap or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and other precautionary measures that would keep the pandemic at bay.

    He dismissed reports of alleged influx of almajiris into the state, adding that the taskforce had been directed to check every vehicle coming into the state.

    “We have given instructions to those manning the boundaries to ensure that every vehicle is checked and anyone carrying more than the authorised number of passengers, especially the motor boy and the driver should be turned back.

    “Only the driver and possibly two other persons should be inside such vehicles conveying approved goods into the state.

    “Any number beyond that should be turned back and I can see that they have been doing that and I haven’t been briefed of the influx of almajiris into the state,” he explained.