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    • Showing posts with label COVID-19. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label COVID-19. Show all posts

    Wednesday, October 7, 2020

    COVID-19 Update For October 6 2020 In Nigeria

    7:57 AM 0
    COVID-19 Update For October 6 2020 In Nigeria

     


    118 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

    Lagos-41
    Rivers-19
    Osun-17
    Nasarawa-13
    Kaduna-5
    Anambra-5
    Edo-3
    Ogun-3
    Kwara-3
    Ondo-3
    Katsina-2
    Niger-2
    Plateau-1
    Akwa Ibom-1

    59,583 confirmed
    51,308 discharged

    Highlights

    On the 6th of October 2020, 118 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.

    Till date, 59583 cases have been confirmed, 51308 cases have been discharged and 1113 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory

    The 118 new cases are reported from 13 states- Lagos (41), Rivers (19), Osun (17), Nasarawa (13), Kaduna (5), Anambra (5), Edo (3), Ogun (3), Ondo (3), Katsina (2), Niger (2), Plateau (1), Akwa Ibom (1)

    A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities.
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    Tuesday, May 5, 2020

    COVID-19: NMA praises Gov AbdulRazaq over care for frontline health workers

    11:38 PM 0
    COVID-19: NMA praises Gov AbdulRazaq over care for frontline health workers

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday hailed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for delivering on his words to pay frontline health workers daily allowances in appreciation of their work.

    Kwara State Chairman of the NMA Dr Kolade Solagberu said in a statement in Ilorin, the state capital, that AbdulRazaq has fulfilled his promise to pay decent allowances to all the health workers involved in the COVID-19 campaign.

    While medical doctors are being paid N25,000 daily, all other categories of health workers in the frontline are getting varying allowances on a daily basis to encourage them to do more.

    “This is to appreciate Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who has kept to his words by fulfilling all promises, especially the recently disbursed financial motivations to the Frontline Healthcare workers in Kwara State who are actively involved in facing the COVID-19 challenge in the State,” Dr Solagberu said.

    “This is no doubt motivating and an added impetus towards driving the ready spirit of the health workers. 

    “The Kwara State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association is proud to have you as our Governor at this crucial time and shall sustain our collaborative stance to further break newer grounds for an overall improved health care system in Kwara State.”


    The government meanwhile has commended the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for its technical support for the state’s medical team, saying the NCDC delegation would be leaving Kwara better prepared to manage COVID-19 and similar cases in the future.

    “I write on behalf of His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the good people of Kwara State to express our profound appreciation for your noble contribution while in the state particularly in the fight against COVID-19,” Kayode Alabi, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee, said in a letter addressed to the NCDC team which departed the state on Tuesday.

    “Your expertise and technical know-how has tremendously improved the state’s healthcare services especially during this crucial time of combating the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic. It is also pertinent to state that the history of the present health challenges will not be complete without your contribution written in gold.”

    The NCDC delegation, led by Dr Shuaib Belgore, arrived Kwara a few weeks ago to drill the state’s medical team on the handling of the pandemic, resulting in strengthened capacity and capability of the state to tackle the pandemic.
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    Nigeria reports record infections hours after lockdown was eased

    11:02 PM 0
    Nigeria reports record infections hours after lockdown was eased
    The total number of infections in the country stands at 2,802, including 93 deaths and 417 recoveries [Temilade Adelaja/Reuters]
    The total number of infections in the country stands at 2,802, including 93 deaths and 417 recoveries [Temilade Adelaja/Reuters] The total number of infections in the country stands at 2,802, including 93 deaths and 417 recoveries [Temilade Adelaja/Reuters] 

    Nigeria has recorded its highest single-day infection rate of COVID-19, the day Africa's biggest economy began a six-week phase-out period of the emergency lockdown measures.

    A total of 245 new cases were confirmed on Monday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 73 of them in the country's commercial capital Lagos.
    The total number of infections in the country stood at 2,802 on Tuesday, including 93 deaths and 417 recoveries.
    The update came just hours after the government relaxed restrictions in Abuja, Ogun and Lagos states, after more than four weeks of lockdowns imposed to contain the new coronavirus.
    Businesses reopen as Nigeria eases coronavirus lockdown (02:09)
    These densely populated regions will come into line with the rest of the country in which slightly looser restrictions introduced last week by President Muhammadu Buhari included an overnight curfew, mandatory face masks in public and a ban on non-essential interstate travel.

    On Monday, the usually frenetic streets of the coastal megacity Lagos, largely empty during the lockdown, were busy again with cars, buses and tricycle taxis.
    Despite rules banning groups of more than 20 people and stipulating that individuals remain two metres (6.6 feet) apart, large groups of people often gathered by the road waiting for public transport.
    Social distancing rules were largely ignored.
    Distinctive yellow minivans used as buses were full, with some passengers struggling to find space to enter vehicles.
    However, in a crucial difference to pre-lockdown life, most people on the streets of Lagos wore face masks.
    In the capital Abuja, in central Nigeria, many businesses were still closed.
    Businesses have been allowed to reopen provided they have decontaminated their offices, can enable social distancing and offer hand sanitiser and hand washing.

    The decision to begin a phased lifting of the lockdown despite the recent sharp rise in cases was criticised by some medical experts, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
    The NMA president, Francis Faduyile, said on Friday the move was "very premature" and risked driving up the rate of infections, which he called a "frightening scenario".
    Chike Ihekweazu, the head of NCDC, warned that crowded scenes seen on Monday would result in more infections.

    SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
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    Return to lockdown likely, Fed Govt warns Nigerians

    10:10 PM 0
    Return to lockdown likely, Fed Govt warns Nigerians
    Businesses reopen as Nigeria eases coronavirus lockdown ...
    A lockdown of the country again is likely.
    This follows Monday’s gross disobedience of the protocols as Nigerians got some relief after weeks of restrictions.
    It was the first day after the easing of the shutdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states.
    Before the four-week stay-at-home imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos and Abuja had been under some forms of restriction for at least one week.
    Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 is not pleased that there was a breach of social distancing with overcrowding in public places, interstate movement and shunning of face masks.
    “Today, we might forgive a little bit because it was the first day. However, we will have infections because of what happened today (yesterday), no doubt about that.
    “But what is more important is how we can learn from the mistakes of today (yesterday) into tomorrow and into next tomorrow, so that by Friday, hopefully, they will have normalised some of these things.
    “The challenge for us as a society is how we now organise ourselves to mitigate this risk to limit transmission from each other. We don’t want an explosion of new infections.
    “But if we do have that explosion, there will be almost no choice left for the leadership of the country than to ask all of us to go back into our homes.
    “For the benefits of having a few hours a day of coming out and reopening parts of the economy, there is a price to pay and that price is that we organise ourselves to do this strictly,” Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said. He spoke during the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja yesterday.
    Dr. Ihekweazu said although the PTF expected some lapses in compliance with safety precautions by some people, corporate organisations, especially banks, flouted the NCDC guidelines for infection prevention and control.
    He said the panel noted that only a few bank branches opened a development that led to the high number of customers seen in them.
    The NCDC boss explained that the Federal Government expected a few extra infections as a result of the lapses on Monday.
    “Initial reports are not too pleasing across the country. When we say take responsibility this time,   we really needed to address corporate Nigeria. One of the biggest groups that we have allowed to restart business today were banks,” he said, adding: “When you limit the number of branches that open, everybody goes to the one branch that is open; that becomes counter-productive.
    “We can produce all the guidelines in the world, but if organisations fail to support the implementation of these measures and focus on a risk-based approach, then our efforts might amount to little or nothing.
    National Coordinator of the task force,  Dr. Aliyu Sani, also clarified that “the easing of the lockdown is in no way a license to relax our self-protection measures.
    ”It is also not …to return to business as usual. The danger of acquiring COVID -19 is even more clear and present now that we are all slowly going back to work.”
    Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, enjoined Nigerians to be more cautious” countries who eased or lifted restrictions, suffered an increase in new cases.”
    ”We need to protect, not only ourselves but each other and our loved ones. We need to make sacrifices today for a better tomorrow,” he advised.
    PTF chairman, Boss Mustapha lamented that crowds at the banks milled around without giving a hoot to the possible spread of COVID-19.
    He charged banks to help in solving the crowd problem by ensuring that their online platforms were set right and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) loaded with cash.
    Mustapha also noted that state governments and security agencies had been advised to ensure strict compliance by corporate organisations to the regulations for the current phase of a national response.
    He appealed to Nigerians to continue being responsible citizens, adding that easing the lockdown did not mean danger had already been averted.
    He said, “The PTF has been monitoring the level of compliance with some of the measures and early observations showed a lack of compliance with social distancing and wearing of masks.
    “We note particularly the chaotic scenes around the banks and other financial institutions. We must reiterate that the danger of infection is not over and that individual actions will contribute to the success or failure of our measures.
    “We urge citizens to minimize the risk of getting infected while in the banks. We similarly urge the banks to ensure that their ATMs and online banking systems are in good order and stocked regularly to avoid convergence of customers in their premises.
    “The PTF fully understands the desire of Nigerians to come out to continue their lives after five weeks of lockdown.
    “State governments and security agencies have however been advised to enforce the measures rigidly and violators will be prosecuted.”
    On inter-state travels, Mustapha said the PTF was not pleased at the rate of movements across the states, including the recent transfer of Almajiris.
    He noted that with the new phase of the national response,   such movements would be regarded as a violation of regulations.
    “The PTF has also received reports on the level of compliance with the nationwide ban on inter-state movements. The objective of the ban is to slow down the spread of the virus across state boundaries.
    “The determination of the government to enforce this policy is not in doubt and as we progress, we believe that proper alignment with the directives of Mr. President would be pursued.
    “There has been very noticeable relocation of Almajiris from one state to another, up until yesterday (Sunday). With the ban on interstate movement, the continuation of this exercise will not be in alignment with the guidelines issued.
    “The PTF shall engage the respective state governments on how to achieve their objectives.”
    The task force also lamented that some states involved in ‘deportation’ Almajiris were helping in the breach of the ban on interstate movement.
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    Nigeria govt finally reveals drug used for treating COVID-19 patients

    9:58 PM 0
    Nigeria govt finally reveals drug used for treating COVID-19 patients


    The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has revealed the drug used in treating COVID-19 patients in Nigeria.

    Ehanire during a press briefing on Tuesday said Nigeria has started using Remdesivir.

    Remdesivir is an antiretroviral drug, in managing COVID-19 patients.

    “We have been using that (Remdesivir); we have tried that in Lagos too,” he said.

    “So, we have tried the antiretroviral drug to see what effect it has.”

    He added that Nigeria has moved from disease importation to community spread.

    Recall that the US had approved emergency use of Remdesivir, for treatment of the disease.

    The US National Institute of Health had said the drug proved effective against the new coronavirus disease.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria has so far recorded 2802 cases while 93 persons have died from the coronavirus infection.
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    Friday, April 24, 2020

    Federal Govt extends airports closure by two weeks in Nigeria

    9:52 PM 0
    Federal Govt extends airports closure by two weeks in Nigeria

    Airports will not reopen for commercial flights on Thursday, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika confirmed on Monday.

    Sirika announced the extension of airports closure by two weeks.

    The airports, which were initially shut as part of efforts to control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) were projected to reopen on April 23.

    On March 23, the Federal Government announced the closure of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja for one month in the first instance as part of measures to combat the coronavirus scourge.

    Sirika explained that the new projected date of opening of airport operations is consequent upon the two weeks extension of the lockdown by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The extension was contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Director of Public Affairs in the Aviation ministry, James Odaudu.


    The statement reads: “As a result of the extension on lockdown by Mr. President, it is no longer possible for us to open our airspace and airports for normal operations by the 23rd April, 2020.”

    The minister also explained that the new projected date of reopening will be subject to review.

    He, however, appealed to air travellers and all stakeholders in the aviation industry to see the extension and the other measures taken by the government as necessary sacrifices to safeguard the health and well-being of Nigerians.
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    COVID-19: Gombe assembly recommends total lockdown of state

    9:52 PM 0
    COVID-19: Gombe assembly recommends total lockdown of state

    The Gombe State House of Assembly has recommended total lockdown of the state following the outbreak of Coronavirus in the state.

    Abubakar Ibrahim, Speaker of the house stated this at the plenary session on Tuesday in Gombe.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state recorded five positive index cases of the virus on Monday.

    The speaker stressed the need for a quarantine centre for all people coming into the state to be restricted for 14 days before being allowed entry.

    He said the house recommended the use of NYSC temporary orientation camp, Amada in Akko Local Government Area of the state, along Gombe-Bauchi Road as quarantine centre.

    According to him, the house decries the attitude of some security agencies that allegedly allow people to come into the state which leads to having the positive cases in the state.

    He directed the house committee on security to meet with the heads of security agencies in the state on the matter and the way forward.

    Ibrahim also expressed the need for more awareness campaigns against the spread of COVID-19, especially among women, adding that all forms of social gatherings must be stopped.

    He further emphasised the need for everyone in the state including the governor to undergo a test toward containing the spread of the virus.

    NAN also reports that the house approved the appointments of Chairmen and members of the State Civil Service Commission and State Independent Electoral Commissioners forwarded by Gov. Inuwa Yahaya (NAN)
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