TheNewsGuru

Tag: Coronavirus

  • JUST IN: Guru Maharaj Ji proffers solution for COVID-19

    JUST IN: Guru Maharaj Ji proffers solution for COVID-19

    Guru Maharaj Ji, the founder of the One Love Family Sect, has called on Nigerians to reconnect with their culture and tradition in order to curtail the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Guru Maharaj Ji made the call on Sunday while addressing newsmen during a forum to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the opening of Maharaj Ji village on the Ibadan-Lagos expressway.

    The sect leader said that the best way to combat COVID-19 in Africa, particularly Nigeria, was through culture and tradition.

    “In the past, all the various forms of diseases were combated through cultural and traditional cures. The black race must wake up.

    “Naturally our culture and tradition are now at the back stage. All we need to do is to reconnect and recognise our traditional rulers.

    “Any society that disconnects from its culture and tradition to make money is bound to face several challenges,” he said.

    He said that foreign diseases now infect Nigerians because they had abandoned their tradition and subjected themselves to foreign control.

    MaharajJi said the Ife-Modakeke crisis was resolved through the use of 17 yam tubers, water, salt honey and calabash as sacrifices to various deities in the land.

    The sect leader, who called on the government to release more money to the people, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to also boost the capacity of Nigerians, particularly students, in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “We have to ensure adequate provision of social amenities, sound security network and conducive environment for the economy to thrive,” he said.

    He also recommended that all equipment and food items coming from Europe and other countries be quarantined for six months.

    Maharaj Ji expressed optimism of a stronger and more viable Nigeria after the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • COVID-19 cases in Africa hit 30,000

    COVID-19 cases in Africa hit 30,000

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo says the number of COVID-19 cases in the WHO African Region has increased to over 30,000.

    The UN’s health agency gave the update on its official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Sunday.

    “Over 30,000 COVID-19 cases reported on the African continent with over 9,000 associated recoveries and 1,300 deaths recorded,’’ it said.

    The WHO African Region COVID-19 dashboard showed that in sub-Saharan Africa, the South Africa suffered the most severe outbreak, while Cameroon and Ghana had more than 2, 500 confirmed cases.

    The figures on the dashboard showed that South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon had continued to top the list of countries with the highest reported cases.

    It showed that South Africa had 4, 361 cases and 86 deaths followed by Algeria with 3, 256 cases and 419 deaths, while Cameroon had 1,518 confirmed cases with 53 deaths.

    According to the dashboard, South Sudan, Sao Tome and Principe, Mauritania are countries with the lowest confirmed cases in the region.

    It showed that South Sudan had the lowest confirmed cases of five reported with zero death.

    Mauritania, the dashboard showed, was second country with the lowest confirmed cases with seven reported cases and one death.

    Sao Tome and Principe, the third country with the lowest cases, had recorded eight confirmed cases with zero death.

    Also, the dashboard showed that Nigeria was number five among the countries with the highest cases with 1, 182 confirmed cases and 35 deaths.

  • JUST IN: Fleeing suspected COVID- 19 patient returns to Ondo

    JUST IN: Fleeing suspected COVID- 19 patient returns to Ondo

    The suspected COVID-19 patient, who fled from the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, has returned to the hospital.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Hospital, Dr Oluwole Ige, told newsmens in Ondo town on Sunday that the patient with symptoms of the novel coronavirus fled the hospital on Saturday while the result of his test was being expected.

    “I can tell you that the patient has returned to the hospital. We are on top of the situation. He is still a suspected case.

    “We are waiting for the result of the test conducted for him and two others.

    “His disappearance led to unnecessary panic in the town as the people now live in fear,’’ Ige said.

    The patient, it was learnt, was admitted at the Accident and Emergency unit of the facility.

    Cases of the virus in Ondo state has risen from three to seven within two days as confirmed by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu.

    Akeredolu on his Twitter handle, @RotimiAkeredolu, said one of the cases is a policeman who visited Ondo state from Lagos last week.

    He said that three more suspected cases were recorded on Sunday morning, one of who was among the four suspects standing trial for the murder of the late Mrs Olufunke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti.

  • COVID-19: Nigeria desperately needs RNA extraction kits, NCDC DG cries out

    COVID-19: Nigeria desperately needs RNA extraction kits, NCDC DG cries out

    Director General (DG) of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has posted on his official Twitter handle that Nigeria desperately needs more Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction kits.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr Ihekweazu posted the tweet on Sunday as Nigeria’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to shoot beyond the roof on a daily basis.

    The extraction kit is part of the recommended diagnostic protocols published by WHO. However, the kits are currently in high demand across the world but in short supply.

    Iheakweazu stated that the product it was looking for was a Total viral RNA extraction kits “preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer”

    The DG said that the manufacturers should be; Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc.

    He added that for anyone with the above product and manufacturer should reach the agency on; ncdclabnetwork@ncdc.gov.ng.

    “We’re desperately looking for more RNA extraction kits as we expand #COVID19 testing. Product: Total viral RNA extraction kits (preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer). Manufacturers: Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc,” Dr Ihekweazu tweeted.

    It would be recalled that the NCDC announced the inclusion of two new laboratories in the national COVID-19 molecular laboratory network.

    The two are in Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

    NCDC said that the inclusion of the two new laboratories brings to 15, the number of laboratories with the capacity to test for COVID-19.

    It said that the country now had the capacity to do a minimum of 3000 tests daily.

    However, the critical challenge remains sample collection and transportation to the relevant laboratories.

    The NCDC says it is working closely with states to strengthen capacity for sample collection and transportation.

  • Just in: Osun records two COVID-19 deaths

    Osun State has recorded two Covid-19 death –Two of the 12 new coronavirus patients admitted at the Osun State Isolation Centre are dead.

    Governor Adegboyega Oyetola made this known while addressing newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, the state capital.

    He said the two Covid-19 deaths occurred in Ile-Ife and Ede areas of the state.

    According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control as of Saturday night, 32 of the total 1182 cases of the virus in the country were confirmed in Osun State.

    The state has also recorded about 20 recoveries.

    The governor appealed to residents of the state to comply with the government’s directive on mandatory use of face masks and observe social distancing as part of efforts to curb the community transmission of the lethal virus.

    He also urged security operatives in the state particularly those manning the land borders not to compromise on the restriction of movement of persons from outside the state.

  • Gov Masari confirms 9 new cases of COVID-19 in Katsina

    Gov Masari confirms 9 new cases of COVID-19 in Katsina

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has confirmed nine new cases of COVID-19 in the state.

    Masari made this known while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Katsina.

    “We sent samples of 287 suspected persons to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) for screening.

    “From the sample, nine tested positive for COVID-19. Four of the confirmed cases from Daura, four from Katsina and one from in Dutsinma local government areas of the state.

    “The nine persons had direct contact with the index cases in Daura, Katsina and Dutsinma.

    “We still have 16 samples in the laboratory waiting for transportation to the National laboratory of the NCDC, Abuja for screening.

    “Another 20 samples will be taken again for screening because they were first taken to the Kano centre which was shutdown for the time being,” he said.

    The governor said that the state now has 30 cases with one death.

    He disclosed that the patients were on admission at the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina.

    “We are now waiting for the second screening for seven others to be conducted in the next two days before they are discharged,” he said.

    He urged the people to continue to abide by the advice given by health experts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “People should keep social distancing, frequent washing of their hands with soap and running water, using sanitisers, covering their nose and mouth with mask, among others.

    “I have also mobilised and directed the law enforcement agencies to enforce the lockdown to stop the spread of the virus in the state,” he said.

  • Nigerian lawyers sue China over COVID-19 pandemic, demand $200bn damages

    Sequel to the novel Coronavirus [COVID-19] disease outbreak that is dealing a big blow on the nation, a coalition of Nigerian legal experts have filed a class action suit against the Peoples Republic of China.

    The lawyers are demanding $200 billion as damages for the “loss of lives, economic strangulation, trauma, hardship, social disorientation, mental torture and disruption of normal daily existence of people in Nigeria.”

    A statement by the lead counsel, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), whose firm, Azinge and Azinge, is championing the action, said they had concluded pleadings for the class action against the Chinese government.

    Azinge is a former Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of Legal Studies (NIALS) and a current member of the Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal London, representing Nigeria and Africa.

    He said: “The team of legal experts planned a two phase line of action-: first is with the federal high court of Nigeria and secondly to persuade the government of Federal Republic of Nigeria to institute a state action against the Peoples Republic of China at the International Court of Justice at the Hague

    “The legal experts will be claiming damages to the tune of 200billion dollars the Chinese Government will be served through its Embassy in Nigeria.”

  • Covid-19: Niger Govt. says movement remains prohibited

    Covid-19: Niger Govt. says movement remains prohibited

    The Niger State Government on Sunday reiterated its order on the ban of movement inside and outside the state, to curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the State.

    In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), and Chairman, Niger State Task Force on COVID-19, said that movement around border areas remained restricted and monitored, except for those on essential services.

    “Public and private schools, as well as tertiary institutions remain closed, while social activities that involve more than 20 persons stand prohibited,’’ Matane said.

    He further explained that those eligible for entry into the state would be examined and screened thoroughly by medical personnel.

    The SSG announced that wearing of face masks in public places in the state was now mandatory.

    “Wearing of face masks by residents of the state is very important. It is for personal protection and to prevent the spread of the virus and other related ailments”, he said.

    Matane, however, said that those on essential services, such as food vendors, water vendors, supermarkets, kiosk owners and farmers, were allowed to operate on the condition that they observed all precautionary measures.

    “Anyone caught violating the directives on social distancing, wearing of face mask and others, would be prosecuted by a mobile court,” he added.

    According to Matane, from time to time, the government will review the directives with a view to reducing the hardships being experienced by people as a result of the lockdown necessitated by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

    Matane said that the state’s task force was working closely with all relevant stakeholders, to ensure effective containment of the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Our Client is Not Positive, Lawyer of Benue Covid-19 Index Case Insist, writes Health Ministry

    EXCLUSIVE: Our Client is Not Positive, Lawyer of Benue Covid-19 Index Case Insist, writes Health Ministry

    … we have to allow them keep our sister for the interest of peace says family members…..

    Susan Idoko-Okpe (Nee Lawani), the controversial index case of Covid-19 in Benue state has continued her agitation for her release from the national Hospital whom she termed “detention” and “unlawful custody”.

    Mrs Okpe who couldn’t secure her release from isolation have decided to approach lawyer. To start she wrote a letter through her lawyer EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, SAN to the Federal ministry of health dated April 23, 2020.

    The letter which was titled “REQUEST FOR THE RELEASE OF MRS. SUSAN IDOKO-OKPE (NEE LAWANI) FROM DETENTION” demands her immediate and unconditional release as well as a public apology by the Federal government whom she (Okpe) claims have been detaining for a Crime she knows nothing about. The letter have been trending in both social and traditional media.

    TNG in an attempt to verify the authenticity the letter approached the Lawani’s family who Okpe comes from. According to her eldest brother who is a former director general of the nigerian institute of Tripanosomiasis Research Kaduna ,Dr Felix Lawani, though he is not aware of the letter, he is sure his sister must have approached the lawyer since she has been agitating for her release from isolation. “I have not seen the letter, it’s not in my place to see the letter, I have recieved several calls regarding that letter but its not my duty to speak on the letter since it’s a legal document….but I know my sister must have approached a lawyer to get freed….”

    TNG reported on 30th March on how Mrs Okpe a British-Nigerian Citizen arrived Benue Nigeria to attend her mother’s burial ceremony but was forcefully isolated after showing some symptoms bof Covid-19. But in a twist to her case Okpe and her family who claimed they have not seen her Covid-19 test result insist she (Okpe) is negative, but she has been on isolation and have since resisted any Covid-19 treatment. ” I spoke to the honourable minister of health who was responsible for the movement of our sister (Susan Okpe) to Abuja.” Dr Lawani told TNG.

    Lawani a Forensic Pathologist and a former appointee of he Federal Ministry of health is already giving in to the influence of the forces holding his sister. TNG attempted to find out if the people Mrs Okpe had contact with in Benue were tested through contact tracing but Dr Lawani couldn’t respond. “…from what I know if a person is tested three times and is positive he or she has to be placed on isolation…. If my sister continue to resist treatment, it is now left for the government to know what to do….” He said. “….for now, we have allow them to keep our her for the interest of peace, the minister told me that it is for the interest of the public and you know the people’s interest overwrites the interest of one person….” He added.

    Other key flash points of the letter includes demands for her rehabilitation and compensation “upon her release and proper rehabilitation, our Client will determine the quantum of damages that she has suffered as a result of her ordeal and revert to you with details thereof, for settlement.” she added in the letter that

    “while thanking you for your kind considerations and positive response, please accept the best assurances of our warmest regards, always.”

  • COVID-19: Gov. Akeredolu confirms 2 new cases in Ondo

    COVID-19: Gov. Akeredolu confirms 2 new cases in Ondo

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo has confirmed two new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state.

    Akeredolu disclosed this through his verified Twitter handle on Sunday in Akure.

    He said: “we have confirmed two other cases in Ondo state, one of the cases involves one of the recently arraigned suspects in the murder of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, Pa Fasoranti’s Daughter.

    “The Commissioner of Police has been duly informed and the line tracing of Police officers and others in the SARs facility where he was kept has started and their specimens are being collected.

    “The suspect has been isolated from others and will be moved to the IDH for treatment. The Commissioner of Police has assured the state that there will be adequate security around the IDH premises to prevent his escape and while on treatment, he will be manacled to the bed.

    “I will expatiate on all cases in my weekly press briefing on Monday, April 27,2020,” Akeredolu said.