TheNewsGuru

Tag: COVID-19

  • Nigeria suspends COVID-19 travel testing

    Nigeria suspends COVID-19 travel testing

    The federal government of Nigeria has suspended all pre-departure and post arrival PCR test requirements for all persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

    The government, however, strongly encouraged all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers to get fully vaccinated.

    With the suspension of both the preboarding and post-arrival PCR tests, passengers will no longer be required to upload evidence of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP).

    According to a statement released by the presidential steering committee on COVID-19, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the immediate relaxation of COVID-19 safety measures and travel advisory.

    According to the statement, all restrictions with regard to gathering in public places have been lifted and the use of face masks is at individual’s discretion for outdoor and indoor events.

    The statement reads:

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate relaxation of COVID- 19 Safety Measures and Travel Advisory following the recommendations of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) based on Clinical and Laboratory evidence of sustained reduction in COVID-19 infection/transmission across the country.

    “The relaxed measures include the following:

    “a. Gathering limitations in Public Places: All restrictions with regard to gathering in public places have been lifted. Owners of facilities are strongly encouraged to maintain good environmental/respiratory hygiene, and ventilation.

    “b. Use of Face Mask: The use of facemasks is at individual’s discretion for outdoor and indoor events. However, the elderly, immunocompromised and those with co-morbidities are advised to use facemasks, wash hands with clean water and soap, use hand sanitizers, and avoid large gatherings.

    “c. COVID-19 Travel testing: All pre-departure and post arrival PCR test requirements for all persons who are not fully vaccinated have been suspended.

    “With the suspension of both the preboarding and post-arrival PCR tests, passengers will no longer be required to upload evidence of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP).

    “All unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers are strongly encouraged to get fully vaccinated”.

  • NAFDAC alerts Nigerians on existence of fake COVID-19 test kits

    NAFDAC alerts Nigerians on existence of fake COVID-19 test kits

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has notified Nigerians about counterfeit Covid-19 Antigen rapid test kits in circulation.

    The notification is contained in a NAFDAC public alert released to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

    The counterfeit BTNX Incorporated COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits was communicated to NAFDAC by Health Canada.

    NAFDAC quoted Health Canada as saying that the fake test kits were sold online in 25-pack boxes by a distributor called Healthful Plus who had not the required licence.

    NAFDAC said the packaging of the counterfeit kits resembles the authentic BTNX Inc. products in colour and typeface and uses the BTNX Incorporated.

    It said that the device identifier has “COV-19C25”, but also has several key differences, adding that it was labelled as manufactured by “Health Advance Inc.” instead of BTNX Inc.

    NAFDAC stated that on the packaging Health Advance was identified as the  “Official Canadian Distributor of the counterfeit products.

    It pointed out that the products had a claim of endorsement by government authorities, such as Health Canada.

    “Genuine COVID-19 Antigen test kit helps detect certain proteins in the virus. Rapid antigen tests are designed to tell in a few minutes whether someone is infected or not.

    “It is recommended as a high performing test for individuals with symptoms, high-risk populations and healthcare or casual workers.

    “Counterfeit health products are imitations of authentic products. The safety and effectiveness of these counterfeit test kits have not been assessed.

    “The genuine manufacturer BTNX Inc. has confirmed that the devices were counterfeit,” NAFDAC said.

    The agency advised wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies and consumers to ensure that their products are obtained from authentic and reliable sources.

    It also encouraged healthcare providers to Increase vigilance within the supply chain to avoid importation, distribution, sale or use of the counterfeit COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits.

    It advised healthcare providers to prevent the administration of the product to unsuspecting patients, adding that the products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

    NAFDAC said that anybody in possession of the counterfeit product should immediately discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest agency office.

    Healthcare providers and consumers are encouraged to report suspected counterfeit health products to NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.

    NAFDAC also advised the public to report adverse effects via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, and e-reporting platforms www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application for download.

  • NCDC issues public health advisory as PSC relaxes COVID-19 safety measures

    NCDC issues public health advisory as PSC relaxes COVID-19 safety measures

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has issued a public health advisory in the country, following the Presidential approval for the relaxation of COVID-19 safety measures and travel advisory.

    The Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, on Wednesday in Abuja, told NAN that this was due to the declining cases of COVID-19 and the steady increase in vaccination coverage in the country.

    President Muhammadu Buhari approved the immediate relaxation of COVID- 19 Safety Measures and Travel Advisory, following the recommendations of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) based on Clinical and Laboratory evidence of a sustained reduction in COVID-19 infection/transmission across the country.

    This includes the lifting of COVID-19 protocols for travellers, the compulsory use of face masks in public spaces and restrictions on mass gatherings.

    This is according to Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, PSC on COVID-19.

    Adetifa said that due to recent assessments of the COVID-19 situation in the country, the agency had also transitioned from weekly case announcements for COVID-19 to biweekly situation reports.

    “However, we continue to advise Nigerians to visit the nearest government health facility to get vaccinated if they have not been previously vaccinated.

    Complete your vaccination dose if you are partially vaccinated and get your booster dose for increased immunity.

    “Persons in the high-risk category for severe COVID-19, including hospitalisation are the elderly, those with conditions or on treatments that affect their immune systems.

    Those with hypertension, diabetes and other significant chronic illness are advised to continue to use their facemask in crowded places.

    “Wash your hands with soap under running water frequently or use an alcohol-based sanitiser, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow or a disposable tissue, and get tested for COVID-19 if you notice COVID-19-associated symptoms,” he advised.

    According to him, Self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19 until you recover.

    Adhere to the published guidelines for home-based care of mild COVID-19 cases through: https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/media/files/

    The NCDC boss urged Nigerians to fill out the simplified Health Declaration Form (not exclusive to COVID-19) on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP) before or on arrival in the country.

    “Although no longer a pre-requisite for travel, we recommend filling this simple health declaration form before travel to Nigeria to avoid any additional delays on arrival at our airports,” he said.

    He said that NCDC would continue to maintain surveillance (including genomic surveillance (sequencing) to monitor the COVID-19 trends locally and monitor the global situation to inform public health measures to protect the health of Nigerians.

    He, however, called on Nigerians to ensure taking their COVID-19 vaccinations.

  • FG suspends COVID-19 tests for travellers

    FG suspends COVID-19 tests for travellers

    The Federal Government has approved the immediate relaxation of the Covid-19 safety measures and travel advisory, including the suspension of all pre-departure, pre-boarding, and post-arrival PCR test requirements.

    This was contained in a statement yesterday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), Boss Mustapha.

    According to Mustapha, President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval follows the recommendations of the PSC based on clinical and laboratory evidence of a sustained reduction in COVID-19 infection/transmission across the country.

    “All pre-departure and post-arrival PCR test requirements for all persons who are not fully vaccinated have been suspended,” the statement reads in part.

    “With the suspension of both the preboarding and post-arrival PCR tests, passengers will no longer be required to upload evidence of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP). All unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers are strongly encouraged to get fully vaccinated.

    “Health Declaration Form. A simplified Health Declaration (non-covid-19 specific) shall be completed by all passengers arriving in Nigeria on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP); while provision will be made on arrival for those who were unable to complete this form before departure.

    “Finally, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) passionately appeals to Nigerians to ensure that they take their COVID-19 vaccinations as well as booster doses.”

    With Nigeria’s first recorded COVID-19 case in February 2020, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) restricted international flights from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International airport in Abuja on March 23, 2020.

    However, emergency and essential flights are exempted from the restriction, according to the NCAA. This followed the Federal Government’s shutdown of three other airports on March 21, 2020, including Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano; Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

    However, after five months of the shutdown, NCAA resumed international flights on September 5, 2020, with strict COVID-19 guidelines for passengers.

  • COVID-19: No more wearing of face masks at airports – FG

    COVID-19: No more wearing of face masks at airports – FG

     

    … running of tests for international passengers suspended

    The Federal Government on Monday revised the Covid -19 protocol mandating air passengers to compulsorily wear face masks at airports in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a circular issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA signed by the Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu and addressed to all civil aviation operators in Nigeria.

    In the circular dated December 12, the civil aviation body stated that:

    “The wearing of facemask inside Airport terminal buildings and onboard aircraft by airport workers,
    passengers, and crew members is no longer mandatory.

    “Wearing of facemask by passengers onboard aircraft or inside Airport terminal buildings is discretionary but recommended.

    ” Persons aged 60 years and above, immunocompromised (e.g. due to organ transplant, cancer, etc), those
    with co-morbidities (e.g. Heart disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, etc), are advised to use
    facemasks, wash their hands with water and soap, use hand alcohol-based sanitizers, and avoid large
    gatherings.

    “Disinfection of bags at the entrance of terminal buildings is no longer required and airlines are therefore required to resume serving catering (meals and drinks) on board aircraft.

    “Maintaining social distancing at airport terminal buildings is no longer mandatory.

    “Facilities and conveyances are advised to maintain good environmental hygiene, good ventilation, and encourage good hand and respiratory hygiene.

    “The use of alcohol-based sanitizer by passengers and airport workers is recommended.Boarding and disembarkation protocols are to be maintained.

    “For international operations, COVID-19 Travel Testing: Pre-departure and Post-arrival COVID-19 PCR tests are no longer required for all
    passengers irrespective of vaccination status. PCR tests required for all passengers who are partially/not fully
    vaccinated have been suspended.

  • We have enough food to feed Nigerians – FG

    We have enough food to feed Nigerians – FG

    The Federal Government on Monday assured the citizens that the country had enough to eat and there would be no shortage of food.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at the fifth edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration Scorecard 2015-2017 series.

    The scorecard series is organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture to showcase the achievements of the President Buhari’s Administration in over seven years of being in office.

    Responding to questions after his presentation, Abubakar said the inflationary trend, a global phenomenon and the flood disaster notwithstanding, the country would not experience food shortage.

    “Absolutely, we have enough to eat in this country, there is no shortage of food. There can be increase in prices Yes, it is better to have inflation than to have no food.

    “We are self-sufficient in rice and we are number one producer of rice in Africa and number four in the world.

    “We are also number one producer of cassava and yam as well as number two producer of sorghum after America and number three producer of millet.

    “We have enough to eat and we will continue to have enough to eat,” he stressed.

    The minister said the inflationary trend the country was witnessing was not peculiar to Nigeria but a global crisis.

    He attributed climate change and the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war as among the reasons for the global inflation.

    “Three weeks ago a friend of mine living in London, said to me that it usually costs him like five pounds to fuel his car for a week.

    “He said now it is costing him about 100 pounds to fuel the same car for one week,” Abubakar said.

    On the destruction caused by flooding to many farmlands, the minister said farmers were embarking on aggressive dry season planting to mitigate the effects.

    He said the ministry was already distributing fast growing seeds in areas where flood waters had receded and the moisture there would assist the plants to grow rapidly.

    The minister added that they had harnessed some of the flood water which would be used for the dry season farming.

  • Half a million UK workers drop out of workforce

    Half a million UK workers drop out of workforce

    The number of people who have dropped out of Britain’s job market since 2019 and who now cite a long-term illness or mental health problems has risen by half a million or about 25 per cent.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Friday.

    The increase in long-term sickness started in 2019, before the pandemic, before rising sharply by 363,000 between early 2020 and the three months to the end of August 2022 to reach 2.5 million, it said.

    The analysis adds to the Bank of England’s worries as it seeks to tame inflation, now at a 40-year high.

    The BoE is concerned that the number of people leaving Britain’s workforce will fuel inflationary pressures and the latest labour market data pointed to a record workforce exodus.

    “More understanding is needed about the impacts of National Health Service (NHS) waiting times, long COVID, and the ageing workforce,“ the ONS said in a report published  earlier on Thursday that analyses previously announced official data.

    Long-term sickness was the reason given by 28 per cent of people who were neither working nor looking for work between June and August 2022, up from 25 per cent at the start of the pandemic.

    However, most people who now cite long-term sickness as their reason for not being in work or looking for a job originally dropped out of the labour market for another reason.

    The most common, and fastest-rising, category of ill health was ‘other health problems or disabilities’ although the ONS doubted whether the increase was primarily driven by long COVID, as the biggest rise occurred in 2019.

    Mental illness and nervous disorders rose by 22 per cent, but depression and anxiety were unchanged.

    Separate data showed that Britain is trailing behind almost all rich nations in its post-COVID labour market recovery and is on track to become the only major developed country with employment below pre-pandemic levels at the start of 2023.

    A combination of factors including a rise in people taking early retirement, long-term illness and lower migration are depleting Britain’s workforce, according to the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) which analysed the data,

    Britain had 600,000 more people who were not participating in the jobs market compared to 2019. That is despite unemployment shrinking to the lowest in nearly 50 years.

    Before the pandemic, Britain had very high employment rates by historic and international standards.

    Among developed countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, only Switzerland and Latvia have seen bigger post-COVID falls in employment.

    “We have record low unemployment, yet hours worked are still below the levels of February 2020,” said Neil Carberry, CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

    That he said makes economic inactivity a huge challenge to our future ability to deliver growth and prosperity.”

  • Flights cancelled in China as Covid cases continue to surge

    Flights cancelled in China as Covid cases continue to surge

    Many airports across China have cancelled the majority of their flights due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

    China’s state newspaper, Global Times, reported on Thursday.

    The southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, which had a particularly bad outbreak of cases, cancelled over 1,000 flights.

    More than 700 flights were also cancelled at two major airports in the capital Beijing.

    The government is implementing strict measures to contain the spread of the virus such as flight cancellations, lockdowns, forced quarantines and mass testing.

    In spite of the country’s zero-Covid policy, which has put a heavy strain on its economy, the number of infections across China has been on the rise again for weeks.

    After reporting 8,176 coronavirus cases the day before, authorities reported around 8,800 more infections nationwide on Thursday.

    The number of infections in major cities other than Guangzhou, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing has also been rising again in recent days.

  • Apple warns customers to expect delays in iPhone 14 shipments

    Apple warns customers to expect delays in iPhone 14 shipments

    Apple has warned customers to expect delays on iPhone shipments due to COVID-19 restrictions at a manufacturing factory in China.

    Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn’s iPhone plant in Zhengzhou, China, is operating under restrictions, temporarily impacting the primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility.

    Recently there were reports that workers at the iPhone assembly factory in China ran away from the premises after a spurt of COVID-19 cases forced a complete lockdown at the factory.

    Foxconn, which is a supplier to U.S.-based Apple, has many workers at its Zhengzhou complex and has not provided an official count of how many are infected by COVID-19.

    Apple stated that it is working closely with the supplier to return to normal production levels while ensuring the health and safety of every worker.

  • COVID-19: Again, NPHCDA appeals to Nigerians to get vaccinated

    COVID-19: Again, NPHCDA appeals to Nigerians to get vaccinated

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has again appealed to Nigerians, who are yet to be vaccinated, to get the COVID-19 vaccines.

    The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, made the call at a one-day evaluation meeting for COVID-19 vaccination exercise.

    The meeting was organised by the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), an independent partner, assisting the NPHCDA to drive the campaign for vaccination against CoVID-19.

    NSSF entered into agreement with NPHCDA in Sept. 2021, to support COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country, but kick-started the project with six states, including Edo, Ogun, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Katsina and Imo.

    The goal, of the agreement is to vaccinate one million eligible Nigerians in the States

    Shuaib, represented at the meeting, by Dr Bassey Okposen, Director of Disease Control and immunisation/Programme Manager, COVID-19 vaccination war room, NPHCDA, said: ”the virus was still very much in the circulation.

    ”COVID-19 is still very active and there is need for  Nigerians to get vaccinated and stay safe.

    ”People are still dying globally, there are countries that are still having new outbreaks, it is good we take the vaccine and kick COVID out of our country.

    “We are not only doing COVID-19 vaccination at the moment, we are also doing integrated vaccination, along with routine immunisation, maternal services and other care at the primary healthcare level.

    “As a nation, we have not achieved credibility on this, we need to get vaccinated so that we can still be safe as a country”, he said.

    He said till date, 55.6 per cent of Nigerians have taken only the first dose.

    The director also said that 44.6 per cent of Nigerians are fully vaccinated.

    “The current drive under the leadership of the Minister of Health, with the support from the President and the entire presidential steering committee on COVID-19, has made us move the figure from 13 per cent.

    “Our target is to ensure 70 per cent of the population get vaccinated before December 2022, we are working hard on this”.

    Also speaking, Dr Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, General Manager/CEO, NSSF, stated that the organisation, conceptualised the meeting to get brief on the improvement of the vaccination on states the partner was already supporting.

    She said with the coming of the independent partner, NSSF, the vaccination figure had risen from over four million Nigerians, where it was met, and had been able to increase the vaccination figure tremendously.

    “In September 2021, NPHCDA approached us for support to increase the vaccination coverage, as at that time, the coverage was just over four million Nigerians who had vaccinated for COVID.

    “We supported NPHCDA by donating N300 million for the vaccination in six states, and with that support, we were able to vaccinate over two million Nigerians.

    “Apart from the direct support vaccination that we got from the six states, we were able to accelerate the vaccination all over Nigeria, which also led to the current number of 40 million Nigerians who have vaccinated.

    “We have gotten the partnership and we will remain partners, we are working with them, advocating for more support, for more coverage, for more mobilisation to reduce vaccine hesitancy in Nigeria,’’ she said.

    She added that the availability of the vaccine was not a challenge, but the hesitancy is the major challenge, stressing that, NSSF was also working with NPHCDA to increase mobilisation and reduce vaccine hesitancy in other states.

    According to her, in no distant time, the NSSF will get the 70 per cent coverage which is the country’s target.

    Also contributing, Mr Adis Mohammad, Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, appreciated the NSSF, for the funds.

    Mohammed said the fund and with the support of the state government, the state healthcare agency was able to get the people to access the vaccine.

    ”When the fund came the state government and other partners like UNICEF, the state healthcare was able to mobilise the people easily.

    “We were able to penetrate some communities, mobilise the people, as well as use the money for other activities like, jingles, buying T-shirts, handbills and posters to drive the campaign for people to get vaccinated.

    “Our success story is also driven by Gov. Abdullahi Sule who gave us the enabling environment, no matter the strategy, if you don’t have the support of the government, the right environment will not be able to implement your plan.

    “We have a government that gave us all the needed support for us to go out and mobilized the citizens of Nasarawa state to access this vaccine, this also included our strong vaccination team within the state, all what we carried out was team work,’’ Mohammad said.