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Tag: Coronavirus

  • Nigerian Catholic priests produce COVID-19 treatment drug, awaits NAFDAC approval

    Nigerian Catholic priests produce COVID-19 treatment drug, awaits NAFDAC approval

    Worried by the daily rising infection and deaths caused by the novel Coronavirus [COVID-19] disease in the country, some Nigerian Catholic faithfuls have developed a drug solely for the treatment of the deadly virus.

    The Catholic group led by Father Anselm Adodo who also doubles as founder of Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories (PHCRL), an alternative medicine product manufacturing company in Ewu-Esan in Edo State said the drug, called PaxHerbal CVD Plus is awaiting the approval of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports that Father Adodo had earlier presented some of the drugs produced in his laboratory to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

    Adodo in a statement he personally signed and released on Wednesday, April 29, on the official page of the Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories explained that the drug contained herbs and active phytoconstituents with documented scientific evidence based on clinical reports of their efficacy and safety.

    The clergyman said the research is a joint effort of experts from University of Lagos and University of Benin, a tertiary health institution—Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo state and experts sent by Prof Tunde Salako and Prof Catherine Adeyeye. TNG reports that Professor Salako is the head of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, while Professor Adeyeye is the director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    Adodo said that plant-based drugs, whether crude or refined, seemed to be the best alternative approach to treat COVID-19.

    He said: “At the moment, plant-based drugs, whether crude or refined, are seemingly the best alternative approach to the treatment of COVID-19 menace. The new generation of vaccine development for combating emergent diseases needed time because of safety profiling.

    “On the other hand, plant-based formulations are easily manufactured, stored and distributed and are readily acceptable by the local population. Moreover, they can easily be handled by both professional and non-medical research personnel with no risk of contamination.

    “The PHCRL has developed a novel drug, called PaxHerbal CVD Plus specifically for the treatment of COVID-19.

    “These herbs have been used in several therapeutic formulations of Paxherbals over the past 25 years for the treatment of hepatitis C, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, bronchitis, pneumonia and malaria.

    TNG reports that as at 11:55 pm 29th April- 1728 confirmed cases of #COVID19 was reported in Nigeria with 307 discharged and 51 deaths. The virus which is now in its communal infection stage has successfully penetrated 34 out of the 36 states including FCT, Abuja.

  • 10 photos that show how COVID-19 is redefining the fashion industry

    10 photos that show how COVID-19 is redefining the fashion industry

    With the outbreak and spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across the globe, face masks have become a trend redefining the fashion industry.

    While there have been debates on the effectiveness of face masks in protecting people against the dreaded virus, this has not stopped governments from making face masks compulsory among prerequisites for lifting lockdowns.

    With the lifting of lockdowns, given compulsion to use face masks, people have devised several ways to make face masks fashionable. This might even make face masks a new popular fashion trend long after COVID-19.

    Here are 10 photos that show how COVID-19 is redefining the fashion industry

    1. COVID-19 fashion trend design

    COVID-19 fashion trend design
    COVID-19 fashion trend design

    2. Ninja headgear Ankara face mask

    Ninja headgear Ankara face mask
    Ninja headgear Ankara face mask

    3. Shirt matching face masks

    10 photos that show how COVID-19 is redefining the fashion industry
    Shirt matching face masks

    4. British High Commissioner to Nigeria putting on made in Nigeria Ankara mask

    British High Commissioner to Nigeria putting on made in Nigeria Ankara mask
    British High Commissioner to Nigeria putting on made in Nigeria Ankara mask

    5. Ben Ayade is Nigeria’s official face mask runway model

    Ben Ayade is Nigeria's official face mask runway model
    Ben Ayade is Nigeria’s official face mask runway model

    6. Amotekun face mask

    Amotekun face mask
    Amotekun face mask

    7. This one won’t help you

    This one won't help you
    This one won’t help you

    8. Family photo with Nigeria’s jersey and face masks

    Family photo with Nigeria's jersey and face masks
    Family photo with Nigeria’s jersey and face masks

    9. No-sew face mask

    No-sew face mask
    No-sew face mask

    10. Face mask headtie matching

    Face mask headtie matching
    Face mask headtie matching

    Beware of unwashed face masks

    Meanwhile, a tailor, Miss Peace Ayodeji on Thursday in Ilorin advised the public to ensure proper washing of handmade face masks before use.

    Ayodeji gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on mass production of face masks.

    She said handmade face masks had become a booming business in the country, but warned the public against using face masks not properly made and to also wash before use.

    According to the tailor, different types of handmade face masks are being sold around the country and the public are desperately buying.

    “COVID-19 has begun to spread at community levels, we need to be careful when purchasing face masks in order not to fall victim of contaminated masks.

    “So many people will try on the handmade masks before buying to know its fitting, and in so doing, increases the risk of contaminating the masks which will lead to further spread of the virus.

    “I will like for tailors to make the straps adjustable and also make it in sizes with tags, they should also make sure people don’t touch the masks unnecessarily.

    “And people should also make sure to wash the masks before wearing. Please if possible, do not try the mask on before washing.

    “I have also heard that some tailors have started using clothing materials that have become rags in their stores.

    “I want to plead with you to make money with the fear of God. Stop hurting your fellow humans, let us always do what is right, use pure and new cotton materials for the masks,” she said.

    The tailor, however, appealed to the government to ensure strict measures against production of unsafe masks in the country.

  • COVID-19: ‘Beware of unwashed face masks’

    COVID-19: ‘Beware of unwashed face masks’

    A tailor, Miss Peace Ayodeji on Thursday in Ilorin advised the public to ensure proper washing of handmade face masks before use.

    Ayodeji gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on mass production of face masks

    She said handmade face masks had become a booming business in the country, but warned the public against using face masks not properly made and to also wash before use.

    According to the tailor, different types of handmade face masks are being sold around the country and the public are desperately buying.

    “COVID-19 has begun to spread at community levels, we need to be careful when purchasing face masks in order not to fall victim of contaminated masks.

    “So many people will try on the handmade masks before buying to know its fitting, and in so doing, increases the risk of contaminating the masks which will lead to further spread of the virus.

    “I will like for tailors to make the straps adjustable and also make it in sizes with tags, they should also make sure people don’t touch the masks unnecessarily.

    “And people should also make sure to wash the masks before wearing. Please if possible, do not try the mask on before washing.

    “I have also heard that some tailors have started using clothing materials that have become rags in their stores.

    “I want to plead with you to make money with the fear of God. Stop hurting your fellow humans, let us always do what is right, use pure and new cotton materials for the masks,” she said.

    The tailor, however, appealed to the government to ensure strict measures against production of unsafe masks in the country.

  • BREAKING: Lagos confirms another COVID-19 related death

    BREAKING: Lagos confirms another COVID-19 related death

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has announced another COVID-19 related death, involving a 25-year-old male patient.

    Abayomi, through his Twitter handle on Thursday, said the deceased at the time of admission at the state isolation facility was in a state of severe breathlessness.

    “We regret to announce additional #COVID19 related death involving a 25-year-old male, who at the time of admission, was in a state of severe breathlessness.

    “Total number of #COVID19 related deaths in Lagos is now 20,” he said.

    The commissioner added that 87 new cases of COVID-19 infection was confirmed in Lagos as at April 29, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos to 947.

    “The good news is that 49 additional #COVID19 survivors have been discharged following their full recovery.

    “The total number of discharged patients in Lagos now stands at 187,” he said.

    Abayomi advised residents to remain committed to observing necessary precautionary measures to stop COVID-19 infection.

    He urged residents to be vigilant and report any concern about COVID-19 infection in their communities.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos still remains the epicentre of Nigeria’s COVID-19 infection, with 722 active COVID-19 cases.

  • Govt approves app for Coronavirus contact tracing

    The Italian government has approved the use of a mobile phone app to support contact-tracing efforts in the fight against the spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

    The decision was taken in an overnight cabinet meeting, the government said on Thursday in a statement.

    The use of the app, known as “Immuni,” will not be compulsory, but officials say it will be effective only if at least 50 per cent of the population downloads it.

    The app allows a user who tests positive for the novel coronavirus to warn people he or she has been in close contact with via an anonymous message.

    To ensure privacy, Immuni will not use geolocation technology but is expected to detect nearby mobile phones using Bluetooth, which should therefore always be turned on.

    The government said people who refuse to use the app will not be penalised in any way, and said only public or state-controlled institutions will store and handle data from the app.

    According to media reports, the app should be ready by mid-May.

    According to Vittorio Colao, a former Chief Executive of Vodafone and Head of a Government Advisory Panel on Lockdown Exit Plans, “It is important to launch it by the end of May”.

    “If everybody or nearly everybody has it by the summer, good; otherwise it will not be of much use,” Colao told the Corriere della Sera newspaper on Wednesday.

    Italy is one of the countries in the world worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 27,682 deaths and 203,591 infections reported as of Wednesday.

  • COVID-19 lockdown: Driverless cars to the rescue?

    At a time when people around the world are observing social distancing measures to halt the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic, driverless mobility – which, by definition, offers mobility with minimal human interaction – seems more relevant than ever.

    Yet, as developers and researchers around the world have suspended real-world testing of their autonomous vehicle fleets due to health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears we are still a long way from a fully autonomous future.

    Barriers to deployment

    “2020 was billed as ‘Prime Time’ for the self-driving car industry, so where are the self-driving cars and trucks we were promised?” Bryn Balcombe, Chief Strategy Officer at Roborace and Founder of the Autonomous Drivers Alliance (ADA), asked as he moderated the fifth episode of the AI for Good webinar series on COVID-19: Where are the self-driving cars and trucks?

    The discussion looked at what barriers remain for autonomous vehicle deployment and how the future of self-driving vehicles may be reshaped following the COVID-19 pandemic.

    One of the panellists, Michelle Avary, Head of Automotive and Autonomous Mobility at the World Economic Forum, pointed to three core stumbling blocks that autonomous vehicles face today.

    “I think we need clarity on regulation globally – without a doubt, that’s needed. But we also need technological validity, as well as business model validity,” she said.

    Slow moving deliveries – a potential business model?

    A driverless future is often mentioned in the same breath as increased road safety, hailed as a means to reduce the 1.35 million global road fatalities every year.

    But in the wake of the current pandemic, we need to expand the definition of “safety” in the automotive sphere to include different types of safety such as biosafety, said Avary.

    The panellists agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a core business case for autonomous vehicle deployment within the logistics and delivery space — certainly in the near-term.

    “What we saw coming out of China in using non-contact, low-speed, highly-automated vehicles for delivery in areas that were locked down, we really should explore more of these and think about where we can remove some of the biosafety risks to our essential workers,” said Avary.

    And as the global pandemic continues, the companies that can pivot to this slow-speed delivery of goods, such as groceries or medicine “have the best chance of surviving,” said panellist Missy Cummings, Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke Pratt School of Engineering, United States.

    “I think that the COVID-19 scenario is going to really decimate the driverless car community,” she said. “Those companies that survive will be the ones that figure out that the delivery slow-speed operations is the right way to go in the near-term.”

    Despite current trends away from public transport systems – notably in China, which has seen a dramatic drop in ridership since the easing of the national COVID-19 lockdown – panellists saw this as the first step towards mass autonomous transit systems in the longer-term, as a way to meet current biosafety standards (i.e. social distancing measures) and address ongoing trends in on-demand transport.

    Global collaboration for safer roads

    But before this can become a reality, both for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, the driverless future faces safety issues of another kind: perception.

    “There’s still a problem with prediction in terms of predicting the behavior of all the other road users and I think that’s actually something that will be coming to the fore as we progress in the perception quality system,” said Balcombe.

    While people can understand and predict pedestrian intent, autonomous perception systems – image processing and machine learning probabilistic reasoning algorithms that help autonomous driving systems understand the world around them and act accordingly – are having to make the most reasonable guess about which course of action to take under the circumstances.

    “When the system doesn’t perform the same way every time, even under the most benign conditions, then how can we ever put guarantees on its ability to navigate the world safely?” said Cummings.

    But it is not just a simple hardware fix, she added. “You are not going to solve this problem by putting more sensors on a car, because until we figure out how to at least replicate in part judgment under uncertainty, all the sensors in the world are not going to solve that problem.”

    One way to overcome this issue, suggested Avary, is to establish global minimum safety guidelines for perception systems.

    A ‘vision test for cars’?

    Additionally, Cummings called for the global autonomous vehicle community to establish “a vision test for cars” to continuously test and validate these technologies.

    But any meaningful progress on road safety will rely on global cooperation among the private sector and governments, the participants agreed.

    “We really need to make sure that we’re sharing the data in the learning more widely, because we don’t think that every single company and every single operator needs to learn safety first-hand,” said Avary. “There’s plenty of places to compete, but we don’t believe that core safety is one of them.”

    So in much the same way that the global community is working together to contain the COVID-19 pandemic through the sharing of best practices in network maintenance and collaborating to ensure #LearningNeverStops, the automotive industry must come together to ensure the safe and steady roll out of autonomous vehicles — and increase road safety in all its forms, agreed participants. ITU News

  • Good News! US discovers antiviral drug that helps COVID-19 patients recover faster

    Good News! US discovers antiviral drug that helps COVID-19 patients recover faster

    Preliminary results of a major study of the antiviral drug remdesivir show it can help hospitalized patients with COVID-19 recover faster.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that targets replication mechanisms in viruses to stop them reproducing. Gilead, a California-based biotechnology company, initially developed it to treat Ebola, another virus, but it was never approved by regulators.

    Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the American (National) Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases hailed the findings, released Wednesday, as “quite good news.”

    “The data shows that remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery,” Fauci said during a meeting with President Trump and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “This is highly significant.”

    The study was sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which Fauci leads and which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

    Fauci said it was the first “truly high powered” randomized placebo-controlled trial of remdesivir, noting that it involved more than 1,000 hospitalized patients at sites in numerous countries. Another randomized controlled trial in China, with results that were also announced Wednesday, was far smaller.

    The NIH trial of the antiviral, which is made by Gilead Sciences, began on Feb. 21. The preliminary study results are not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal, but NIH released the results after an analysis by the data safety monitoring board overseeing the trial. Fauci said the results were announced because of the ethical responsibility to allow the placebo group to access remdesivir, since there is now clear evidence that the drug works.

  • COVID-19: FG to decontaminate 123 aircraft, 13 airports

    COVID-19: FG to decontaminate 123 aircraft, 13 airports

    The Federal Government on Wednesday said 123 aircraft and 15 airports will be decontaminated across the country as part of measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread in the country.

    Two of the aircraft have so far been decontaminated, Environment Minister Muhammad Mahmood said in Abuja during the daily briefing by members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Control.

    Explaining the slow place of the decontamination, Mahmood said: “Aviation sector is such a specialized sector. We cannot rush things. I did say that we have mapped out 125 aircraft and 13 airports.

    “So far, we have decontaminated and disinfected two aircraft. Why we are not rushing it is because of the nature of the industry.

    “It is a place that when it comes to safety, everything must be followed carefully, and even when we want to do that, we have to follow their lead as to how and where to go while decontaminating the aircraft.

    “For the airports, we need to be led on where we need to go, how and when we need to also. The decontamination is ongoing because there are other facilities that we are decontaminating across the country. So, we will go as soon as they are ready for us.”

  • COVID-19: Fayemi reacts to viral video of retired FRSC official who denied son entry into his house after returning from Lagos

    COVID-19: Fayemi reacts to viral video of retired FRSC official who denied son entry into his house after returning from Lagos

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has hailed a retired official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Femi Adeoye, for denying his son, who just arrived from Lagos, access to the house without confirming his COVID-19 status.

    Dr. Fayemi, in a statement in released in Ado-Ekiti by the Information Commissioner Muyiwa Olumilua said Adeoye’s actions epitomised the core Ekiti ethos of selflessness, which placed greater premium on the collective good of the society above personal interest.

    The governor urged residents to emulate the patriotic zeal of the retired officer and report any out-of-state traveler, who sneaks into their neighbourhood.

    This, he, said would help to prevent the likely health hazard that such returnees portend for the larger society.

    The statement reads: ”The attention of the Ekiti State Covid-19 Task Force has been drawn to a video clip in circulation where a man refused to allow his son, who just returned from a trip outside the state, into his house until he had been isolated for 14 days as stipulated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocol for preventing community spread of COVID-19 in Ekiti State.

    “The task force commends Mr. Femi Adeoye, for refusing to cover-up his son’s travel history and for denying him access into the house without confirming his COVID-19 status.

    “Mr Adeoye epitomises the Ekiti ethos of selflessness, which places greater premium on the collective good of the society above personal and emotional considerations. This is the core of the values orientation policy of the Fayemi-led administration.”

    “We also consider it necessary to inform members of the public that the video was recorded about four days ago, by one of the security men attached to the Fajuyi Pavilion, where the Enforcement Taskforce uses as its base for coordination of daily operations.

    Meanwhile, Governor Fayemi has ordered the immediate suspension of one of his aides identified as Sola Durodola who reportedly shot the video where he was making mockery of the retired FRSC officer.

    In the video, Durodola who is neither an health official nor medical doctor authoritatively certified the suspect as free of covid-19, which was against the directives of the WHO.

    The statement gathered, that the security man who recorded the encounter is neither a health worker, nor qualified or authorized to determine the health status of the young man. So, none of his actions or misstatements reflect the capacity or preparedness of the State Taskforce to combat the COVID-19 virus.

    ” The officer in question has been suspended pending further investigations, for acting outside the jurisdiction of his scope of authority.

    “Following the encounter, the young man has been in the custody of the State for the past 4 days, and has since been taken to one of the designated quarantine centres, where he would be for 14 days, in line with laid down procedure that dictates that anyone who sneaks into the State, would be quarantined for fourteen (14) days, at their own cost.

    His samples will also be taken for testing in order to ensure he has not been infected in the course of his travels to high incidence areas of the country.

  • COVID-19: Lagos begins ”controlled easing” of lockdown, says schools, religious centres remain closed

    COVID-19: Lagos begins ”controlled easing” of lockdown, says schools, religious centres remain closed

    The Lagos State Government says schools and religious centres will remain closed as it begins a ”Controlled Easing Phase” of COVID-19 lockdown on May 4.

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this on Wednesday at the Lagos House, Marina, while addressing newsmen on the update of the management of COVID-19 in the state.

    Sanwo-Olu said that all open markets and stores would be allowed to open daily from 9a.m. till 3p.m. on selected days.

    He said that everyone attending these markets and stores would be mandated to observe precautionary measures of social distancing and very high level of personal and hand hygiene.

    According to him, malls will be allowed to open with the proviso that stores in the malls maintain a 60 per cent occupancy capacity within the stores; while also ensuring that a 2-meter social distancing is maintained between every person and the next in the store.

    He added that hand sanitisers and/or wash basins must be provided at all entry points, and temperature checks must be carried out.

    The governor said that eateries and restaurants would be allowed to open daily between 9a.m. and 3p.m., but only take-out and delivery services would be permitted, as in-dining services were not allowed.

    He said that all food handlers and staff of eateries were expected to have gone through exhaustive health checks and must also practise high levels of personal and hand hygiene in serving members of the public.

    Sanwo-Olu said that food handlers were also mandated to wear masks and hand gloves at all times; particularly during the preparation and serving of the food.

    He said that hand sanitisers and/or wash basins must be provided at all entry points, and temperature checks must be carried out periodically throughout the period they were open for business.

    According to him, all medical establishments will continue to open, and maintain a high index of suspicion for COVID-19 and all suspected cases of COVID-19 must be immediately reported to the State Helpline: 08000-267662.

    ”All schools and institutions at primary, secondary and tertiary levels remain physically closed. Students are expected to continue learning on the alternative online and media channels announced by the various institutions of learning.

    ”All places of worship (both formal and informal) are to remain closed from any form of congregational services or assemblage, until further notice.

    ”Our Muslim brothers and sisters taking part in the Ramadan fast must observe all meals and prayers within their homes.

    ”In line with the pronouncement of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), no gatherings are allowed for Iftar, Suhur, and Tarawih; and the conduct of Tafsir is also suspended.

    ”Since the process of ablution involves touching the face, it is essential to ensure that the hands are clean. Ablution should, therefore, be preceded by the washing of hands with soap,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu added that the capacity of public transportation system to reduce the risk of contagion would also be strengthened by a number of proactive measures to be taken.

    He said that all commuters were mandated to wear face masks at all times, sanitise with alcohol-based sanitiser or wash their hands with soap and running water before and after every trip.

    According to him, all transport operators/companies are expected to sanitise their vehicles, parks and garages regularly and continuously at least before and after every trip.

    He added that they were expected to have at the entrance of the respective parks hand washing equipment with running water; and deploy temperature readers to test every passenger before boarding.

    ”All operators are expected to have alcohol-based sanitisers in their vehicles for drivers, conductors and passengers.

    ”All motor parks and garages must avoid overcrowding. Social distancing is required for passengers queuing up to board buses.

    ”All buses should be loaded to a maximum of 60 per cent of full capacity. This means that if a bus normally takes 10 people at full capacity, during this period, no more than 6 persons can be allowed to board at any point in time.

    ”No standing allowed in all BRT and LBSL bus operations. All air- conditioning systems in public transport systems must be switched off.

    ”All Operators, i.e. drivers and conductors, are mandated to always wear face masks and hand gloves while in transit and dispose of same appropriately.

    ”All of these guidelines as outlined – face masks, regular disinfection, hand-washing equipment, temperature checks, and 60 per cent maximum capacity – shall equally apply to Water Transport Operations.

    ”In addition, from May 4, 2020, Water Transport Operations will be restricted to the period between 6a.m. and 6p.m. daily, until further notice,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu said that commercial motoyrcycles, popularly known as Okadas, were to suspend their operations statewide, except for those motorcycles used for courier and logistics purposes.

    He said that tricycles (Kekes) operating in unrestricted areas, must not carry more than two passengers per trip and must ensure appropriate social distancing was maintained between passengers.

    The governor said that all activities within the entertainment industry, including beer parlours, hotels, casino, among others, would also remain closed until further notice.

    He said that swimming pools, gyms, barber shops, spas, beauty salons, and all public parks, including those in private and residential estates, would continue to remain closed for another two weeks in the instance.

    According to him, the government will review and advise on the permissible opening date for these establishments.

    He called on residents associations to enjoin their members, as well as operators of businesses within their association to adhere to these directives.