TheNewsGuru

Tag: COVID-19

  • Churches forced to change holy communion order over Coronavirus fears

    Churches forced to change holy communion order over Coronavirus fears

    Roman Catholic authorities in Jerusalem on Friday instructed their priests to give communion by hand only.

    The authorities added that the priest should stop placing the wafers on worshippers’ tongues, and to empty holy water fonts as precautions against the spread of the coronavirus.

    The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced the measures on Thursday, shortly after the start of Lent, the 40-day season that leads up to Easter.

    Millions of pilgrims frequent Jerusalem and other holy cities such as Nazareth and Bethlehem each year.

    Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Vatican’s apostolic administrator, said in a statement that with its many visitors the Holy Land is in a “unique situation”.

    The guidelines include receiving Communion by hand only, rather than placing the wafer directly on the recipient’s tongue, and avoiding having the faithful receive Communion from the chalice.

    In the communion ceremony, worshippers receive a wafer called a host and often sip wine, or dip the wafer into wine in the chalice before putting it in their mouths.

    Catholics believe that the host and wine, after consecration by a priest, become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

    Pizzaballa’s statement also offered a preventive suggestion to empty the holy water fonts – typically metal or stone basins filled with blessed water that are often placed at the entrance to a church.

    The Latin diocese is the Vatican’s representative in holy cities across Israel and the Palestinian territories as well as in Jordan and Cyprus.

    It’s most famous churches are Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, where he is believed to have been born, and Nazareth’s Basilica of the Annunciation.

    Earlier on Friday, Israel confirmed its second case of coronavirus, a person it said had been in close contact with a man who tested positive after visiting Italy.

  • Coronavirus: ‘I had contact with Italian citizen day before yesterday’ – Uber driver

    An Uber driver has come out to say he had contact with an Italian citizen the day before yesterday, the day an Italian man that has been confirmed with Coronavirus (COVID-19) entered the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Uber driver, who identified himself as Olugbenga Bodunrin, said he picked the Italian from the airport in Lagos State.

    “We talk, gist and laugh together. We even dine together,” the Uber driver said.

    On whether it was the same Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy, to Lagos, Nigeria on Tuesday and tested positive to the virus, the Uber driver said it wasn’t that man.

    “I didnt pick the man that av the virus…. U guys are just so funny… I picked an italian citizen datz all not the man tested positive on civic19,” he tweeted.

    https://twitter.com/boldjohnson07/status/1233317328558923776?s=19

    Earlier, the Federal Government said it has commenced contact tracing of the first case of reported COVID-19 in the country to monitor the health of people that travelled with the patient to prevent the spread.

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said this while answering questions from journalists on Friday in Abuja on measures put in place to prevent the spread.

    Ehanire had earlier confirmed that an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy, to Lagos, Nigeria on Tuesday had tested positive to the virus.

    He assured Nigerians that the government was working to prevent the spread of the virus.

    “I am assuring Nigerians that all measures have been taken to contain and control the spread of the virus, it happened in Lagos, the state Commissioner was the first we were in touch with.

    “I know the capability of Lagos State, the state has a lot of experience on Ebola so they will be able to handle the case. Also, we have sent a team from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to support the state.

    “The relief is that the patient is not showing very serious symptoms and other relief is that as far as statistics is concern, 97 per cent of the case that have COVID-19 do recover.

    “The terrible thing about it is that it spreads easily and people can get it without knowing,’’ he said.

    According to him, the reported case is not as a result of failure to screen at the airports but the nature of the virus which may not present symptoms at that period of screening.

    He commended the Lagos State Government for handling the case as the patient was quickly referred to reference laboratory under controlled transportation and the driver was fully kitted.

    The minister said the Federal Government had released N620 million to NCDC for contain the virus and N71 million to port health service.

    “We are doing everything possible to prevent the spread because we did not have the scope of the virus as reported by scientists.

    “We have been preparing hard and working with World Health Organisation (WHO) and the agency has warned that all countries should brace up on level of preparedness.

    “The government will follow the WHO guideline of screening at the airport, isolation and questioning those with travel history to countries with outbreak,’’ he said.

    The minister, however, emphasised that the Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health, had been strengthening measures to ensure that an outbreak in Nigeria was controlled and contained quickly.

    Ehanire advised all Nigerians to take care of their health and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene to protect themselves and others, including their own families, following the precautions below:

    “Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

    “Maintain at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

    “Persons with persistent cough or sneezing should stay home or keep a social distance but not mix in crowd.

    “Make sure you and people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene, meaning cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue or into your sleeve at the bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

    “Stay home if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing,’’ he urged.

    “Please call NCDC toll free number, which is available day and night for guidance: 0800 970 0000-0010,’’ he said.

  • PDP blames Buhari for Coronavirus in Nigeria

    PDP blames Buhari for Coronavirus in Nigeria

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for the confirmed case of Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country, stressing that the President took no concrete steps to hedge the nation against the virus, leading to the current scary situation.

    Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP stated this while arguing that Buhari’s negligence and laidback attitude to governance and the welfare of Nigerians has led to the entrance of the deadly Coronavirus into the country.

    The party said “it was evident that the Buhari Presidency, not being alive to its responsibilities, as usual, took no concrete steps to hedge our nation against the virus, leading to the current scary situation.

    “The PDP notes that a responsive and proactive government would have mobilized effective surveillance and screening measures to ward off the menace, particularly at our entry points, but the incompetent, insensitive and indifferent Buhari administration, was more interested in propaganda and unnecessary showboating with false performance claims.

    “The party also recalled that the Buhari administration had done nothing to assist Nigerian citizens stranded in China despite their pleas, just the same way it abandoned our compatriots who were being murdered in the heat of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    “The PDP said Nigerians should directly hold the Buhari Presidency responsible should any national calamity arose from COVID-19 in addition to the economic and security challenges its negligence had caused our nation.

    “Due to the negligence and incompetence of the Buhari administration, Nigerians can no longer move freely across their country for fear of insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and now corona virus.

    “Indeed, the Buhari government is a huge misfortune to our nation. This latest leadership failure further validates widespread calls for it to step aside for more competent hands to manage the affairs of our country.

    “The PDP therefore calls on Nigerians not to despair but stir up the Nigerian resilient spirit for an urgent, multi sectoral concerted effort by agencies, groups, corporate entities and public-spirited individuals to immediately curb the disease before it spreads, particularly given the prevalent security, economic and humanitarian challenges in the country.

    “The party called on the Federal Government to end its cosmetic attitude and immediately adopt the proactive strategy used by the PDP administration to promptly contain the Ebola Virus disease in 2014.

    “The PDP also advised Nigerians to be very vigilant and follow intervention directives to ensure that the disease does not spread in the country.

    “The party urged the ministry of health to continue to be open and not allow propaganda, speculations and misinformation in the handling of this health emergency”.

  • Coronavirus: Virologist raises question on passengers inside plane with Italian

    Coronavirus: Virologist raises question on passengers inside plane with Italian

    Dr Solomon Chollom, a virologist and medical laboratory scientist with the National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Plateau State, has called on the Federal Government to identify and quarantine other passengers who had contact with the Italian in the plane or at the airport.

    Chollom stated this on Friday in Abuja, stressing that the passengers who were onboard the plane that flew in the Italian must be quarantined because the symptoms start showing after three days.

    “They must be quarantined for 21 days. This is not time to be frivolous with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) strategies, especially the use of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and use of alcohol-based solutions for disinfection of surfaces.

    “Patients presenting with respiratory symptoms should be treated as category A risk individuals. With the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria, it is now clear that the virus is here in the country.

    “This calls for a national health emergency first in all hospital facilities in Nigeria. The second emergency should be in public places such as schools, markets, worship centres and motor parks.

    “Health awareness should immediately permeate such places to limit handshakes and undue contact with surfaces and individuals. People should be informed to cough into tissue papers and disposed into alcohol-based solutions,” he told NAN.

    The laboratory scientist urged the federal government to immediately direct that hand sanitisers and hand wash stations be mounted public places like schools, motor parks, markets and worship centres.

    “And people should be advised to use them. If we cannot stop international flights into Nigeria at the moment, we should be able to censor and subject immigrants to baseline medical investigations and quarantine those with high possibilities of carrying the virus

    ”Lagos State should be commended for being proactive by instituting a mobile hospital at the International Airport in anticipation of this emergency.

    “It is no surprise that the state has been able to detect a case of the virus from an international traveler,” he said.

    He suggested that other entry points to the country should be equipped to detect the virus and other such infections.

    “One can only assume that other international airports in the country that do not have the proactive measures taken by Lagos state or capabilities of tertiary hospitals are serving as blind entry points for potential carriers of the virus.

    “In this wise, Nigeria may be in for a health emergency to dread, God forbid!”, he said.

    COVID-19: FG commences contact tracing of confirmed case

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it has commenced contact tracing of first case of reported Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country to monitor health of people that travelled with the patient to prevent the spread.

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said this while answering questions from journalists on Friday in Abuja on measures put in place to prevent the spread.

    Ehanire had earlier confirmed that an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy, to Lagos, Nigeria on Tuesday had tested positive to the virus.

    He assured Nigerians that the government was working to prevent the spread of the virus.

    “I am assuring Nigerians that all measures have been taken to contain and control the spread of the virus, it happened in Lagos, the state Commissioner was the first we were in touch with.

    “I know the capability of Lagos State, the state has a lot of experience on Ebola so they will be able to handle the case. Also, we have sent a team from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to support the state.

    “The relief is that the patient is not showing very serious symptoms and other relief is that as far as statistics is concern, 97 per cent of the case that have COVID-19 do recover.

    “The terrible thing about it is that it spreads easily and people can get it without knowing,’’ he said.

    According to him, the reported case is not as a result of failure to screen at the airports but the nature of the virus which may not present symptoms at that period of screening.

    He commended the Lagos State Government for handling the case as the patient was quickly referred to reference laboratory under controlled transportation and the driver was fully kitted.

    The minister said the Federal Government had released N620 million to NCDC for contain the virus and N71 million to port health service.

    “We are doing everything possible to prevent the spread because we did not have the scope of the virus as reported by scientists.

    “We have been preparing hard and working with World Health Organisation (WHO) and the agency has warned that all countries should brace up on level of preparedness.

    “The government will follow the WHO guideline of screening at the airport, isolation and questioning those with travel history to countries with outbreak,’’ he said.

    The minister, however, emphasised that the Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health, had been strengthening measures to ensure that an outbreak in Nigeria was controlled and contained quickly.

    Ehanire advised all Nigerians to take care of their health and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene to protect themselves and others, including their own families, following the precautions below:

    “Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

    “Maintain at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

    “Persons with persistent cough or sneezing should stay home or keep a social distance but not mix in crowd.

    “Make sure you and people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene, meaning cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue or into your sleeve at the bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

    “Stay home if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing,’’ he urged.

    “Please call NCDC toll free number, which is available day and night for guidance: 0800 970 0000-0010,’’ he said.

    The confirmed case in Nigeria is the third reported case of COVID-19 in Africa after Egypt and Algeria.

  • Pope cancels more meetings after slight illness

    Pope Francis on Friday cancelled engagements due to a slight ailment.

    According to the Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, Francis celebrated morning Mass as usual but decided to postpone the day’s official audiences.

    Bruni said the 83-year-old pontiff would however, confirm other meetings due to be held in Santa Marta, his residence within the Vatican’s grounds.

    On Thursday, Francis pulled out of celebrating a Lenten service with priests from the Rome diocese in the Basilica of St. John in Lateran, roughly a six-kilometre drive from St. Peter’s Square.

    Earlier, as he held his weekly audience and later led an Ash Wednesday service, he displayed the symptoms of a cold, with a hoarse voice and frequent coughing.

    Francis’ ailment was announced amid widespread anxiety in Italy about the spread of the pneumonia-like new coronavirus, which is mostly affecting Northern regions and not Rome.

    He, however, commented on the public health crisis, expressing his closeness to those who were ill with coronavirus and to health-care workers who are caring for them.

  • Pet dog suspected of having Coronavirus quarantined

    Pet dog suspected of having Coronavirus quarantined

    The pet dog of a patient with coronavirus is in quarantine after testing weak positive for the virus, Hong Kong authorities said on Friday.

    The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said it was to run further tests on the animal to determine whether it has contracted the disease, or if the result was caused by environmental contamination of the dog’s mouth and nose.

    The animal was not showing any relevant symptoms.

    The AFCD said it did not have evidence at present that pets can be infected with the virus causing the Covid-19 disease, but advises to quarantine pets of infected patients to ensure public and animal health.

    The department also urged pet owners to wash their hands thoroughly after handling their pets.

  • Coronavirus in Nigeria: Six ways to avoid COVID-19 infection

    Coronavirus in Nigeria: Six ways to avoid COVID-19 infection

    Coronavirus Nigeria| Now that the first case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Health and Lagos State Government, TheNewsGru has gathered protective measures you can adopt against the deadly disease.

    Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following in joining the war against ‘Coronavirus Nigeria‘:

    Wash your hands frequently
    Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

    Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

    Maintain social distancing
    Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

    Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

    Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
    Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

    Practice respiratory hygiene
    Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

    Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

    If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
    Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.

    Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.

    Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
    Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow the advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

    Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

  • BREAKING: Israel announces Coronavirus breakthrough

    BREAKING: Israel announces Coronavirus breakthrough

    Israeli scientists have announced a major breakthrough vaccine against the Coronavirus disease for poultry, and are only three months away from testing the vaccine on humans.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports researchers from Galilee Research Institute claimed that the vaccine they have been developing for the past four years could be modified for use in humans within three months.

    Announcing the breakthrough vaccine at a press conference, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Galilee Research Institute, David Zigdon said the vaccine it has been developing for the past four years has similar DNA structure in the virus that had spread from China.

    “There is a high urgency around the world to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus in humans, so we are working to expedite the development process and achieve an effective vaccine for the COVID-19 virus over the next 8-10 weeks and move to safety trials [in humans] within 90 days.

    “The vaccine developed by us for poultry is administered orally and the human vaccine offered by us is also expected to be administered orally” Zigdon said at the press conference.

    The Galilee Research Institute CEO noted that due to the urgent global need for the vaccine, the Institute is working around the clock with potential partners to help accelerate the research process in humans needed to complete the final product development and regulatory process.

    Prof. Dan Levanon, founder of Galilee Research Institute said that the duration of the vaccine’s development process is contingent upon health officials’ regulations.

    “Under these conditions, where the disease causes enormous damages as it worsens, I believe the regulations will be eased,” Levanon said.

    Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Science and Technology, Ofir Akunis has welcomed the researchers’ breakthrough.

    “Had [the vaccine] had to be subjected to the usual regulations, it would have taken several years. Of course, without risking human life. I hope and believe there will be further progress soon,” he said at the press conference.

    Akunis also instructed the Director of the Ministry to promote any possible collaborations that would expedite the production of the vaccine in humans.

  • BREAKING: Saudi Arabia suspends pilgrimage to Holy Land

    Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned travellers from coming to the kingdom for either Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, or to visit the Prophet’s Mosque in the city of Medina, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry made this known in a statement on Thursday.

    “Suspending entry to the Kingdom for the purpose of Umrah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque temporarily,” the ministry said.

    Riyadh also banned travellers with tourist visas issued by countries “in which the spread of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a danger, according to the criteria determined by the competent health authorities in the Kingdom,” the ministry added.

    The Umrah, or “minor pilgrimage,” can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Hajj, which is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Every Muslim should make a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Mecca at least once during their lifetime.

    As of Thursday, over 82,000 people worldwide have contracted COVID-19, of whom 2,800 have died and more than 32,000 have recovered.

  • Reddington Hospital patient who tested negative for Coronavirus to be retested

    Reddington Hospital patient who tested negative for Coronavirus to be retested

    The Chinese national who presented ill to a Reddington Hospital in Lagos State, and was tested negative for Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Thursday will be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a Chinese citizen (names withheld), who arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago presented sick to Reddington Hospital Ikeja, complaining of fever, sparking Covid-19 scare.

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health confirmed the Chinese national has been isolated at Mainland Hospital, and that his blood samples were taken for investigation, which later came out negative.

    However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said if a suspected case is confirmed, appropriate management will commence but if negative, the patient would still be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General of NCDC stated this on Thursday in Abuja, saying that the result of the 11 suspected cases of Covid-19 tested in Nigeria is negative.

    Ihekweazu reassured Nigerians of their safety against Covid-19, revealing that the tests were conducted by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory and Virology Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    “Four laboratories in Nigeria have the capacity to test for the coronavirus. These laboratories are within the NCDC laboratory network and are in contact 24/7. If a new case is confirmed, it will be reported accordingly.

    “We are in close communication with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and other states, and will inform the public once there’s a confirmed case in Nigeria,” the Director General said.

    Ihekweazu assured Nigerians that the NCDC would continue to closely monitor the outbreak globally.

    “We urge Nigerians to disregard rumours and discourage further spread. NCDC will inform the public if a case is reported in Nigeria,” he said.

    The NCDC boss said that when a high-risk traveller with symptoms arrived in the country, he/she would be taken from the airport to an isolation centre and samples would be collected immediately for testing.

    “If confirmed, appropriate management will commence but if negative, he/she would still be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    “When a high risk traveller that is not symptomatic comes into the country, the person is advised to stay at home for 14 days and report immediately if he/she develops symptoms.

    “Furthermore, his contact details are obtained and an official is attached to him/her to monitor him daily for 14 days to see if he develops symptoms.

    “If he develops symptoms within 14 days of arrival in the country, samples would be collected from him for confirmation.

    “If confirmed he/she goes into our isolation centre where he would be managed appropriately,” he explained.

    Ihekweazu described a high-risk traveller as someone who has had contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case or was travelling from China, particularly Wuhan.

    The NCDC boss noted that the Chinese authorities have intensified measures to prevent exportation of Covid-19 such as screening travelers leaving China.

    “In Nigeria, the NCDC conducts daily epidemic intelligence gathering to monitor the spread of the outbreak,” he said.

    He said that the Government of Nigeria through NCDC is working very hard to be better prepared in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.

    He disclosed that NCDC in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) reviewed strategies to work together in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to ensure that Nigerians are well informed.

    Besides, he said NCDC has just concluded a training of case management physicians from the five states with international airports in Nigeria; namely Kano, Enugu, Lagos, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory.

    “This is to build their capacity to manage severe respiratory disease cases,” he said.

    Furthermore, Ihekweazu said that NCDC had revised the national case definition in line with changes in the epidemiology of the outbreak.

    “With ongoing local transmission in countries outside China, the focus had been expanded to include travelers from other countries.”

    He added that with the support of World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDC would carry out a two-day simulation exercise to assess its capacity to respond in the event of an outbreak.

    “This process will allow for a review of existing gaps and rapid implementation of interventions to fill these gaps,” he explained.

    Ihekweazu said it was important for Nigerians to understand where they fit in national preparedness for infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

    He added that health security is a responsibility cut out for all Nigerians, including individuals, healthcare workers, government and the private sector.

    The NCDC director general however appealed to Nigerians to stay away from fake news, pointing out that it is causing panic, harm and lead to waste of resources.

    Ihekweazu therefore advised Nigerians to share only information from verified sources, while the NCDC would continue to keep them informed.