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Tag: Coronavirus

  • Coronavirus kills Lagos returnee in Kwara

    Coronavirus kills Lagos returnee in Kwara

    The Kwara Government on Saturday announced that it recorded its first death from a confirmed case of COVID-19 pandemic.

    This was made known by Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and spokesman, Kwara Technical Committee on COVID-19.

    According to Ajakaye, the deceased recently arrived Kwara from Lagos with his wife and a child, after he suffered a stroke at his Lagos base.

    Ajakaye said before the man’s death, the state government treated him, his wife and their child as suspected cases.

    Their samples were taken for analysis.

    “The results of their samples came back positive.

    ” Unfortunately, he died early Saturday morning even before the family got to know about their COVID-19 status.

    “He has been buried accordingly.

    “All the people involved in the burial have now had their samples taken,” Ajakaye said.

    He stated that due the peculiarity of the case, the Rapid Response Team brought all those involved, including the deceased wife and child to the isolation centre .

    “We pray to God to repose his soul.

    “We urge citizens to see COVID-19 for what it is: a deadly and highly contagious virus that requires adherence to all safety protocols, including obeying the lockdown order.

    “We repeat that there is no shame or blame in contracting the virus as this is a global pandemic from which no one is immune.

    “We commiserate with his family on this painful development while also wishing all of our patients quick recovery,” he said.

    Ajakaye stated that the state government also announced four new positive cases of COVID-19 from among those who sneaked into the state from the northwestern axis of the country.

    According to him, this brings to 28 the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kwara State.

    The government spokesman noted that 19 confirmed cases were active while nine others were discharged.

    He added that all active cases were asymptomatic.

  • 12 health workers test positive for Coronavirus

    12 health workers test positive for Coronavirus

    The Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aliyu Maigoro, says 12 health workers in the state have been infected with coronavirus.

    Maigoro made the disclosure at a news conference on Saturday in Bauchi.

    He, however, said that no death had been recorded so far among all the affected health workers.

    “As at today, we have 12 medical officers in the whole of Bauchi state who have been infected with COVID-19.

    “Six of them are in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Council of the state, while others are here in Bauchi

    “Let me, however, tell you that we have not recorded any death among these health workers,” the commissioner said.

    While speaking on patients fleeing isolation centres in some states, Maigoro said the state’s surveillance team had a link with other states, saying this would make it easier to trace and take such people back to isolation centres.

    “We have a link between Bauchi and other states; our surveillance team has a link; if you escape, they will give us your contact, which we will use to trace you.

    “There is inter-state synergy; we have just apprehended a contact from Taraba State, who came to Bauchi and he is being isolated.

    “Wherever you are, once we have your address, we are going to get you, because if we don’t, you are going to infect other people in the community,” he said.

  • COVID-19: I will lockdown Lagos if you continue to violate social distancing – Sanwo-Olu warns Lagosians

    COVID-19: I will lockdown Lagos if you continue to violate social distancing – Sanwo-Olu warns Lagosians

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday threatened to lockdown Lagos again if Lagosians continue to violate the social distancing order.

    The governor expressed displeasure that some Lagosians, especially those in the transportation sector did not obey the social distancing order in totality.

    The governor, while giving update on the Coronavirus situation in the state, said on the first day of this new phase of an eased lockdown, the compliance level for commercial transport sector operations was regrettably very low.

    “Yellow Buses especially, failed to comply with the capacity restrictions outlined in our framework. While compliance has improved in subsequent days, it is still not encouraging. Many commercial motorcycle operators openly and indiscriminately defied the suspension.

    “The ban on Inter-state travel except for essential goods and services was also consistently flouted. In many cases people decided to make the final leg of the journey into the State on foot, to beat the restrictions.

    “Trucks and other vehicles carrying items designated as essential, have also played major roles in flouting the guidelines, by conspiring to conceal and smuggle people in and out of the State,” he said.

    According to Sanwo-Olu, the reports about mask usage in public places had also not been encouraging as many people were still choosing to go out without masks or face coverings of any kind, saying this was simply unacceptable.

    “Let me reiterate that the success of this gradual easing of the lockdown is dependent upon the compliance of each and every one of us.

    “As a Government, elected to uphold the security of Lagos State – and this includes health security – let me make it clear that we will not hesitate to review the terms of this easing if we continue to see evidence that Lagosians are determined to flout the rules.

    “I am aware that the Presidential Task Force has also made this point; that the continued maintenance of this easing is only guaranteed when people consistently comply.

    “Let the numbers we have seen this week stand as a warning to all of you the good people of Lagos State. What we are seeing is child’s play compared to what we could be seeing if we continue to be irresponsible,” he warned.

    However, Sanwo-Olu, said five days into this gradual easing, “we can look back and pronounce a verdict on the general levels of compliance in major sectors of our economy.

    “Let me start with the encouraging news. We have seen our manufacturing and construction companies gradually ease back into operation. We are happy with the level of compliance in this sector, as well as the beneficial impact of this limited resumption on our economy.

    “In the case of our intra-state commuting, and particularly with our BRT and LBSL Buses, and water transport operations, substantial compliance with the carriage policy of no more than 60 percent of maximum capacity was recorded. Markets and Mechanic Villages also demonstrated significant compliance.

    “In terms of open markets and stores, our directive was that food and farm produce markets will open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while markets dealing in other items will open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We have seen high levels of compliance in this regard, as well as in the maintenance of physical distancing and the use of face masks in the markets,” he said.

     

  • COVID-19: Nigeria announces plans to commence non-oil export

    COVID-19: Nigeria announces plans to commence non-oil export

    The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, (NAQS), has announced that it will soon commence export of agricultural produce.

    The Director General, NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe made this known in a statement signed by the Head, Media, Communications and Strategies, NAQS, Dr Gozie Nwodo.

    Isegbe noted that the Federal Government has authorized the Agency to fully resume its export certification duties at all ports immediately.

    According to him, ”The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has also issued a consequential whole-of-government directive instructing Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well state governments to cooperate with NAQS to enable a well choreographed restoration of export traffic for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

    The Director General also disclosed that the federal government granted the Agency authorization to make agro-export kinetic again because of the manifest need to free all functions related to agricultural export on both the public and private sectors side from any encumbrance.

    He revealed that the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NAHCO Aviance), Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Federal Road Safety Commission, Vehicle Inspection Office, the Nigerian Police and other security agencies are now under obligation to work in concert with NAQS and stakeholders to reanimate agricultural export.

    Dr. Isegbe further noted that producer and transit state governments were expected to grant the right to free passage to the consignments along efficient corridors that have been mapped by NAQS under a best logistics-support arrangement.

    He however called on all relevant entities in the agricultural export environment to play their respective parts to foster the return of business to normal pace.

    “The Agency will balance the consideration of professional protocols and adherence to all recommended COVID-19 safety precautions in the discharge of its statutory mandate of inspection and certification of agricultural products,” Dr. Isegbe assured.

  • COVID-19: NCDC validates new PCR testing centre in Edo

    COVID-19: NCDC validates new PCR testing centre in Edo

    Following efforts by Edo State Government to boost the state’s capacity to test for coronavirus (COVID-19) and achieve its target of testing 1,000 residents daily, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has validated a new Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing centre at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

    Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, noted that sample testing for COVID-19 has commenced at UBTH, while validation and inspection of the third PCR testing centre in Edo State is on-going.

    Okundia noted that the state has revved up its testing and screening capacity, urging residents to use the opportunity provided by the state government to ascertain their COVID-19 status.

    He said the screening and testing exercise would identify the trend of the spread of the virus across the state and help the government ramp up effort and strategies to contain the pandemic.

    According to him, “The Edo State Government is committed to wiping out this deadly virus from all communities in Edo, as we have stepped up measures to screen over 500, 000 residents and test about 5,000 people within the next few days.

    “As part of these measures, the state’s laboratory capacity is being strengthened and training of laboratory personnel is ongoing by NCDC, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners. While sample testing at Irrua specialist Hospital (ISTH) is still on-going, UBTH PCR has been validated and sample testing for COVID-19 has commenced. The validation and inspection of the other new PCR in Edo State is on-going. We are also upgrading our laboratory facilities to cater for differential laboratory testing at Stella Obasanjo Hospital Isolation Centre (SOHIC).

    “The state government has commenced decontamination of homes/offices of confirmed cases in Edo. We have set up screening facilities (questionnaire-based) in six Primary Health Care (PHC) centers and 4 private health facilities in Oredo LGA, which are being scaled up across the 18 LGAs; this is in addition to the screening centres at borders with Kogi, Ondo and Rivers States. We have also commenced mobile screening for residents across 12 wards in Oredo LGA; this is also being scaled up.”

    The commissioner added, “We urge all citizens to abide strictly with government directives on social distancing, use of facemask in the public, regular handwashing with soap under running water or using alcohol-based sanitisers, cough etiquette and compliance with the stay-at-home order.

    “We appeal to everyone with symptoms of the disease to come for screening, testing and treatment as prompt detection and treatment increases the chances of survival. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, please call these toll-free lines that have been activated by Edo State Government for assistance: 08001235111or 08002200110.”

  • Ali Baba opens on role of coronavirus creative industry committee

    Popular comedian, Atunyota Akpoboriome a.k.a Ali Baba has opened up on the role of the coronavirus creative industry committee set up by the Federal Government.

    The showbiz impresario, who heads the committee, explained the primary role of its members in a post he shared on Instagram on Friday.

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_7Zvx1nfyA/

    “We have received several messages, on the back of the newly constituted COVID-19 Creative Industry Committee, set up to ascertain the damage to the sector…Members of the committee have been working on how to make sure that the effects of the pandemic on all players in each sector and sub-sectors are heard

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, announced the formation of the committee in an interview with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) published on Thursday.

    Other members of the committee include actor, Segun Arinze, movie producer, Charles Novia and artiste manager, Efe Omoregbe, among others.

  • Kano returnee who sneaked into Osun tests positive for COVID-19

    A resident of Kano State who sneaked into Osun State tested positive to coronavirus.

    The Osun State Government disclosed this in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ismail Omipidan on Saturday.

    According to the statement, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu revealed that the new case of Coronavirus recorded in the state sneaked in from Kano State to the Iwo area of the State before his neighbours alerted the Osun COVID-19 team.

    He noted that with the new case recorded, it has brought the number of active cases in the State to three.

    He said, “The COVID-19 confirmation test for one suspected case came back positive on Friday out of the 14 samples we sent for testing at the NCDC accredited Testing Centre; the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Ede during the week. The case sneaked into the State from Kano State and the neighbours immediately alerted our COVID-19 team.

    “Presently, we have 3 active cases in the State. The good news is that the new case on arrival self-isolated although wasn’t showing any symptom of the Virus”, he added.

    Furthermore, the Commissioner disclosed that a total of 434 tests have been conducted at the NCDC accredited Testing Centre in Ede and that testing was still ongoing.

    Isamotu, who said that the State government isn’t resting on its oars in preventing community transmission of the virus, appealed to residents of the State to always be on the alert and immediately report any suspected case of Coronavirus.

    He also urged them not to accommodate anyone from outside the State at this time, saying that it is dangerous to do so at the moment.

    “I am appealing to all the residents of the State to always be on the alert, take charge and report any suspected case by calling our COVID-19 hotlines. Let us desist from accommodating people in our homes no matter who they are and stop inviting your family and friends to return to the State at this time as this might be dangerous”, Isamotu said.

  • Kano records five fresh COVID-19 deaths, 65 new cases

    The Kano state ministry of health says the state has recorded five deaths of COVID-19 patients with additional 65 cases.

    The state ministry of health published the information on its Twitter handle Friday evening.

    The ministry explained that one COVID-19 patient was discharged on Friday while the total number of cases recorded in the state so far is 547.

    Recall that Kano had been in the news recently over mysterious COVID-19 related deaths that has claimed members of both top and low echelons of the society.

  • U.S. Vice President’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller tests positive for Coronavirus

    U.S. Vice President’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller tests positive for Coronavirus

    Katie Miller, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary (also referred as spokeswoman/spokesperson) has tested positive for the coronavirus.

    Her virus status may be a double trouble for the White House.

    Katie is also the wife of Stephen Miller, President Trump’s senior adviser.

    Pence, who leads the federal government’s coronavirus task force, was set to travel to Des Moines, Iowa, Friday, when the news was relayed to him.

    Thus his plane was delayed for nearly an hour to enable the removal of those who had been in contact with Miller.

    Six Pence staffers who were scheduled to take the flight were removed from the plane at Andrews Air Force Base “out of an abundance of caution,” the vice president’s office said.

    Pence had not been in recent contact with Miller, according to the vice president’s staff.

    Her marriage to Stephen Miller took place in February.

    On Thursday, the White House reported that one of President Trump’s personal valets had also tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

  • Troubling trend in Lagos as Covid-19 carriers flee their homes after testing positive

    Troubling trend in Lagos as Covid-19 carriers flee their homes after testing positive

    Lagos State Government on Friday lamented that some people who tested positive for Covid-19 have fled their homes when government officials came to take them to isolation centres.

    Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi disclosed this at a news conference to give update on Coronavirus situation in Lagos.

    He said government always experience a situation where some people who tested positive would run away from their home once they discover their status, and that some even switched off their phones.

    Abayomi added that some positive patients would shut their doors against government officials and leave the environment because they were afraid of being isolated.

    He appealed to Lagosians who tested positive not to run away but to cooperate with government officials.

    In his words: “There is also a situation that we experience, when we test people, sometimes they find it difficult to find them. The ambulances will go into community, people will flee their homes, and they make it difficult for us to find them.”

    “If you have tested positive, we expect you to cooperate with us and make yourself available so that you can be admitted and accessed.

    “Our isolation facilities are really comfortable, it is not like the Ebola days, we have made a lot of improvements.

    “Members of the executive and senior people in government have been admitted into those facilities. If I test positive for Covid-19, I will go to one of those facilities.”