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Tag: Covid-19 deaths

  • Bill Gates queries ‘low’ COVID-19 deaths, cases in Africa

    Bill Gates queries ‘low’ COVID-19 deaths, cases in Africa

    Bill Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), has said he does not understand why coronavirus numbers have not been as high as predicted in Africa.

    Recall that Gates and his wife, Melinda, had on more than one occasion, warned that there will be dead bodies all over the streets of Africa if the world does not act fast enough.

    Melinda said her heart was in Africa, adding that she is worried that the continent might not be able to handle the devastating effect of the virus.

    But in his end of the year note, Bill said he was happy his prediction about Africa has not happened, “One thing I’m happy to have been wrong about—at least, I hope I was wrong—is my fear that Covid-19 would run rampant in low-income countries. So far, this hasn’t been true,” he wrote.

    In most of sub-Saharan Africa, for example, case rates and death rates remain much lower than in the U.S. or Europe and on par with New Zealand, which has received so much attention for its handling of the virus.

    “The hardest-hit country on the continent is South Africa—but even there, the case rate is 40 percent lower than in the US, and the death rate is nearly 50 percent lower.

    “We don’t have enough data yet to understand why the numbers aren’t as high as I worried they would get — but gave probable reasons Africa was not as affected as expected.”

    Meanwhile, Nigeria is currently fighting the second wave of the coronavirus.

    The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 had last week announced a second wave of the dreaded virus.

    The Federal Government on Tuesday directed civil servants from grade level 12 and below to stay at home.

    They are to remain at home for five weeks following the second wave of the Covid-19 disease in Nigeria.

    Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Friday stated that Covid-19 related deaths now stand at 1,246.

    Nigeria currently has a total of 82,747 confirmed cases in the country.

  • Covid-19 second wave: Germany registers 962 deaths in 24 hours

    Covid-19 second wave: Germany registers 962 deaths in 24 hours

    Germany has registered 962 Coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, a new record, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) of infectious diseases in Berlin said on Wednesday.

    The previous record was reached a week ago, when 952 infections were announced.

    A further 24,740 new infections were recorded on Wednesday, according to the RKI. The total number of people who died in connection with a coronavirus infection rose to 27,968 as of on Wednesday.

    The increasing number of infections and deaths is putting pressure on Germany’s health systems.

    In the city of Zittau in Germany’s east, the crematorium is completely full and bodies of the deceased are having to be stored in a large storage hall typically in action during floods, the city said on Tuesday.

  • Trump accuses U.S. doctors of profiting from COVID-19 deaths

    Trump accuses U.S. doctors of profiting from COVID-19 deaths

    U.S. President Donald Trump has accused doctors of profiting from COVID-19 deaths, with the virus exploding in many states.

    However, his challenger Joe Biden said Trump had surrendered to the pandemic.

    Both rivals on Friday sought support in Midwestern states where the coronavirus has roared back.

    In Wisconsin, where new cases doubled last week, Trump urged the state’s Democratic governor to lift restrictions that aim to slow the virus’s spread.

    Most in the crowd of several thousand did not wear masks.

    “You’ve got to open up your state and you’ve got to do it fast!” Trump said at the rally, with just four days to go before the election.

    READ ALSO Coronavirus: Kano records first case
    Earlier in the day in Michigan, Trump attacked the U.S. medical system, falsely saying: “Our doctors get more money if someone dies from COVID.”

    In Minnesota, Biden accused Trump of “giving up” in the fight against the virus and said he should not attack medical personnel who are treating its victims.

    “Unlike Donald Trump, we will not surrender to this virus,” he said. Supporters, socially distanced in their cars at the state fairground, and honked their horns in agreement.

    The coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 229,000 people in the United States and cost millions more their jobs, has dominated the final days of the campaign.

    A record surge of cases is pushing hospitals to the brink of capacity.

    The news pushed Wall Street to its worst week since March, undercutting one of Trump’s main arguments for re-election.

    Trump, who recovered from COVID-19 weeks ago, has played down the health crisis for months, telling supporters in recent weeks that the country is “turning the corner” even as cases surge.

    Biden has warned of a “dark winter” ahead and promised a renewed effort to contain the virus.

  • See names of high profile Nigerians who have died from, contracted COVID-19 so far

    See names of high profile Nigerians who have died from, contracted COVID-19 so far

    While countries all over the world continue battling and adjusting to a new normal brought about by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), one thing that has remained a sort of mystery since this global trying moment is the non-discriminatory approach of the virus. The fatalities cut across countries, class, race, tribe and other known/unknown forms of human classifications.

    The situation is not different in Nigeria as artisans, health workers, clerics, top political figures, musicians, bank executives, footballers and several others have either survived or loss their lives to the raging virus.

    Recently, the Minister of Health and member of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Osagie Ehanire, lamented that educated and well-to-do Nigerians constitute many of the fatalities from COVID-19 in Nigeria.

    “A disturbing picture emerging from statistics is that not only are most fatalities observed to be linked with preexisting diseases, many are educated, well-to-do people, who chose home-based care, where they develop sudden complication and have to be rushed to hospital,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that as of Friday, August, 14, 2020, Nigeria had a total of 48,445 confirmed cases, 35,998 discharge and 973 deaths. TNG understands that these are not just statistics especially for the loved ones of the deceased whose lives might never remain the same even after the world gets over this pandemic.

    TNG highlights below a list of prominent Nigerians who lost their lives to the virus after contracting it to further drive home the point that the virus is real and that the recent global freedom should not be taken for granted that the fight against the virus is won and over.

    1. Suleiman Achimugu

    Suleiman Achimugu was a former Managing Director of PPMC, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) subsidiary in charge of petroleum products marketing and distribution.

    Achimugu’s family said he died on March 23 after showing symptoms of the virus following his return to the country from the United Kingdom.

    He was Nigeria’s first fatality.

    2. Abba Kyari

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, on April 17 succumbed to coronavirus at 69.

    About a week before he tested positive for the virus, he was in Germany meeting with energy officials at Siemens on a deal to restore Nigeria’s electricity grid.

    He was transferred from the capital Abuja to Lagos for medical care where he was confirmed dead.

    Emir of Kaura-Namoda in Zamfara State

    3. Abiola Ajimobi

    Abiola Ajimobi, a two-term governor in Nigeria’s southwestern Oyo State died from underlying health conditions after contracting coronavirus.

    He passed away in Lagos at the age of 70 on June 25.

    Ajimobi was born on December 16, 1949, in Oyo State, South-west Nigeria.

    He served as senator before his election as Oyo governor in 2011. In 2015, he became the first Oyo State governor to win re-election.

    4. Bayo Osinowo

    Before his death, Mr Osinowo was a senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District. He passed away on June 15 at the age of 64.

    His death came at a time when he urged the public to be mindful of the deadly virus.

    5. Dan Foster

    Nigeria-based African American popular radio presenter and broadcaster, Dan Foster aka The Big Dawg died from COVID-19 complications on June 17.

    6. Wahab Adegbenro

    The Ondo State commissioner of health, Wahab Adegbenro, died from COVID-19 complications on July 2 at the state’s infectious disease hospital.

    He died two days after handing the positive test result of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to him. Many who spoke about the late Adegbenro said he was one of the most hard-working cabinet members of the state government.

    7. Pastor (Dr.) Richmond Leigh

    Pastor (Dr.) Richmond Leigh, the Senior Pastor and Founder of Richmond Sisan Leigh Ministries, also known as Father’s House Bible Church, is dead.

    TNG reports that Pastor Leigh was said to have died at an undisclosed hospital in Warri on Friday, July 4 after contracting the dreadful virus. He was the second cleric to die of the virus in the state.

    8. Jide Odekunle

    Chief Jide Odekunle was General Manager of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, LASIMRA during the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos State.

    According to reports, the top socialite reportedly drove himself to the Onikan Isolation Centre with his wife on Sunday, July 5 and died shortly after of Coronavirus complications at the centre.

    9. Tunde Braimoh

    The Lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Braimoh lost the battle against COVID-19 on Friday, July 10, 2020.

    Until his death, he was the chairman house committee on information, security and strategy in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    10. Buruji Kashamu

    Former Senator representing Ogun East in the 8th National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu is the latest on the list of prominent Nigerians to die of the deadly virus.

    TNG reports that the former Nigerian lawmaker died of COVID-19 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at the First Cardiology Consultants in Lagos.

    He was aged 62.

    11. Babatunde Oke, Onigbongbo Local Council Chairman

    Babatunde Oke was executive chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) until his death on August 12.

    Oke according to reports died last Wednesday from COVID-19 complications. He was the second council chairman in Lagos to die from the virus.

    He was 57 years old.

    Prominent Recovered Cases

    It was not all about deaths for the Nigerian elite class that contracted COVID-19. On a broader note, majority of the elites who tested positive for the virus won the battle against it in a couple of days.

    Some of these lucky ones are;

    Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State.

    Others are; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godsfrey Onyeama also recently recovered from the virus after testing positive on July 19.

     

     

  • Nigeria records 12 deaths in 24 hours as COVID-19 cases hit 27,564

    Nigeria records 12 deaths in 24 hours as COVID-19 cases hit 27,564

    Twelve people died of COVID-19 in the various isolation centers of Nigeria in the last 24 hours, the NCDC announced on Friday.

    An additional 454 cases were also announced for Friday, taking the country’s total to 27,564.

    The number of people discharged increased from 10,801 to 11,069 – which means 268 were discharged in 24 hours.

    Lagos remains the leader of the COVID-19 table with 87 cases.

    Its cumulative total is now 10,910 cases.

    Below is the breakdown of cases recorded on Friday.

  • Health Minister resigns over COVID-19 death toll

    Health Minister resigns over COVID-19 death toll

    Chilean health minister Jaime Manalich resigned Saturday, just after a year in office, amid a furore over the true coronavirus death toll.

    He was immediately replaced by Enrique Paris, former president of the Medical Association and an academic. , will

    Monalich got into trouble over discrepancies in the death toll.

    He was also criticised for his handling of the pandemic.

    Following a change in the methodology announced by the Chilean authorities this week, the government acknowledged that it reported a much higher number of deaths from COVID-19 to the World Health Organization than it reported to the public.

    The authorities are said to have reported more than 5,000 deaths to the WHO, as opposed to the 3,101 deaths registered in the official reports.

    In addition to the changes in the death count methodology and the criticism over the lack of speed in the delivery of data, the figure of the minister was worn down by a series of controversies during the last few months he was in charge of the ministry.

    He earned a lot of criticism for his handling of the pandemic, urging Chileans to live “with a new normality” at the beginning, but later tightening measures as there was a rise in the contagion curve.

    On Saturday morning, the leaders of the opposition parties signed a letter requesting President Sebastian Pinera to remove Manalich. The government parties had apparently already been notified of Manalich’s departure by the president.

    Enrique Paris who is taking over has defended the government’s handling of the pandemic.

    “This is not the time to attack the health authority, and even less so the President of Chile”, he said.

    With nearly half of its population in total quarantine, Chilean health authorities reported the highest daily death toll with 231 deaths, exceeding 3,000, and 6,509 new infections in the last 24 hours, totaling 167,355 cases.

  • COVID-19: More prominent Nigerians have died using self-medications at home – FG

    COVID-19: More prominent Nigerians have died using self-medications at home – FG

    The Federal Government has linked the growing number of Covid-19 deaths in Nigeria to self-medication, stressing that many of those who died recently, apart from having some underlying illnesses, had taken to home care.

    Mustapha warned that those who are infected to seek help rather than going underground.

    “For those who are struggling with the disease, help is available. Do not go underground. It is important to talk about it and to seek help. Every effort spares humanity the agony of the spread of the virus”, he stated.

    Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire added that many recent cases of fatalities were as a result of the preference of some patients for home care, rather than accessing official treatment.

    He said; “It is of great importance that we, members of the health sector and citizens, endeavor to use this period to dedicate their effort to strive for the best, but also prepare for the worst. As we learn more about coronavirus every day, we must be ready to adjust our strategy, based on knowledge and evidence.

    “1, 644 patients have been treated and discharged from care, but we have sadly recorded 191 deaths in 26 states and the FCT.

    Even though this figure seems low compared to other countries, a disturbing picture emerging from statistics is that not only are most fatalities observed to be linked with preexisting diseases, many are educated, well-to-do people, who chose home-based care, where they developed sudden complication and have to be rushed to hospital.

    “Experience is showing that breathing complications in COVID-19 patients can arise with little or no notice. This is an added reason why all persons should seek medical attention when they test positive.

  • 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.

  • Gov Mai Mala Buni speaks on alleged mass COVID-19 deaths in Yobe

    Gov Mai Mala Buni speaks on alleged mass COVID-19 deaths in Yobe

    Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has debunked reports that there were COVID-19 related deaths in the state.

    Buni urged the public to disregard those reports in a statement by his Director General, Press and Media Affairs, Malam Mamman Mohammed.

    “Our attention has been drawn to an online report alleging COVID-19 related deaths in Yobe State.

    “The report also claimed that Governor Mai Mala Buni, was in Abuja while his people were dying.

    “We had expected the publishers to crosscheck their facts and reflect our position to balance the story.

    “For the records, Yobe state was the very first state in Nigeria to voluntarily submit a suspected case of COVID-19 for the test. Thank God, it was negative.

    “The state had in spite of non-existing case, constituted a COVID-19 committee, established three isolation centres equipped with ventilators and all necessary equipment,” the governor said.

    “Secondly, Governor Mai Mala Buni, had not travelled out of the state for six weeks until when President Buhari invited him to Abuja to discuss security matters where he spent just three days and had since been back.

    “Therefore, he was not outside the state coordinating the affairs of the Yobe from Abuja as claimed.

    “This administration maintains an open-door policy, we, therefore, call on the media to always contact the state government to clarify every issue before going to the press,” he said.

  • Lagos records seven fresh COVID-19 deaths

    Lagos records seven fresh COVID-19 deaths

    The deadly Coronavirus has killed seven more people in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

    According to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, seven more people died in Lagos State on Friday.

    As at Thursday, the state has 21 deaths, but the deaths of seven more people took its Coronavirus deaths to 28.

    Lagos, the epicentre of Coronavirus, has almost half of Coronavirus deaths nationwide.

    The state has 1,006 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, with 225 people who recovered from the virus discharged.

    The virus seems to have slowed in the state, with the rate of infection dropping in the last two days.

    After it ramps up 87 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the state recorded a drop in infections to 45 on Thursday and has further gone down to 30 on Friday.

    As it is, the state is still the epicentre of the virus, but if the figures being churned out by Kano on daily basis continue, it may dethrone Lagos as the epicentre.

    Active Coronavirus cases in the state right now stand at 753.