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Author: Alpha Maidawa

COVID-19: A’Ibom Govt. begins construction of 300-bed isolation centre
The Akwa Ibom Government has begun the construction of a 300-bed isolation centre at Ituk Mbang hospital, as part of measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, disclosed this at a news conference in Uyo on Wednesday.
Ekuwem said that the Ituk Mbang isolation centre would complement the existing isolation centres at IDH Ikot Ekpene and Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo.
He said that the five persons earlier confirmed to be coronavirus positive in the state were in good condition and under close observation by a team of medical experts.
The SSG added that contact tracing for those who might have come in contact with the confirmed cases had begun in accordance with standard medical procedures.
“Construction work has commenced on a 300-bed Isolation Centre in Ituk Mbang to complement existing isolation centres in Ikot Ekpene and Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo.
“All five reported positive test cases of COVID-19 in the state earlier taken in isolation custody are hale and hearty while awaiting the conduct of a reconfirmation test.
“Even though, they have not shown any noticeable symptoms, they are under close observation by a team of specialised medical experts,’’ Ekuwem said.
He said that government had increased the number of isolation centres and acquired 19 ventilators.
Ekuwem added that the state government had procured and distributed large numbers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other requisite tools to relevant health care institutions across the state.
According to him, government has concluded plans to provide relief materials to Akwa Ibom residents to cushion the effect of lockdown, which entered its sixth day on Wednesday.
“A Disbursement Committee will soon announce the disbursement modalities directly to all villages in Akwa Ibom state. The mode of disbursements to village will enable trickle down to give succour to all and sundry.
“It is worthy of note that the rice mill that was commissioned a few years ago is meeting the rice needs of the state, especially at a time like this,’’ he said.
The SSG also said that state had received some donations from corporate organisations and individuals as part of their contributions to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
He, however, solicited for more donations from multinationals companies, corporate organisations and individuals to support the state government in containing the pandemic.
He urged residents to continue to observe all personal and respiratory hygiene guidelines earlier issued and adhere to the social distancing directive.
“While the Governor is in the fore front of the fight against the pandemic threatening our state, it is imperative for residents and citizens to remain law abiding and fully observe the lockdown order as contained in the Quarantine and Restriction of Movement Regulations 2020,’’ he said.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on April 1 announced five positive cases of the COVID-19 in the state.
Based on the announcement, Gov. Udom Emmanuel, in a broadcast ordered restriction of movement in the state with effect from April 3 and to last for 14 days to enhance contact tracing. (NAN)
April 8, 2020
COVID-19: SON deploys 29 free int’l standards on essential products
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has deployed 29 relevant international standards to support the manufacturing and importation of essential materials to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Mr Osita Aboloma, SON Director-General, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Aboloma said that the standards were deployed to meet emergency needs occasioned by COVID-19 globally while the process for the adoption would continue unhindered in spite of the lockdown.
He said that the deployment of 28 standards was through the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), while one was from the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) on alcohol based hand sanitisers.
“The standards, which are being provided at no cost to local manufacturers, are being made available to the National Committee on Sustainable Production and Delivery of Essential Commodities during the pandemic of which SON is a member.
“This is to guide local manufacturers as well as to provide a benchmark for adjudging all imported products in the category during the pandemic.’’
He said that SON had received free, unlimited usage of the ISO web conferencing system (zoom) for national standards development work only.
“With this offer, Nigeria, as an eligible member will be assigned a zoom account for developing countries, which we can share with our Technical Committee (TC) members and experts, creating the equivalent of a `virtual conference room’ at the national level.
“Nigeria’s TC meetings could continue largely, while its stakeholders and experts keep safe in this time of bans on gatherings and travels,’’ he said.
Aboloma told TC members nationwide to expect invitations from the secretariat for participation in the consideration and adoption of several international standards from ISO resources, to support global efforts in dealing with the pandemic.
He listed some of the international standards compiled by ISO to support global efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis as follows:
“ISO 374-5:2016 Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms – Part 5: Terminology and performance requirements for micro-organisms risk.
“ISO 10651-3:1997 Lung ventilators for medical use – Part 3: Particular requirements for emergency and transport ventilators.
“ISO 10651-5:2006 Lung ventilators for medical use – Particular requirements for basic safety and essential performance – Part 5: Gas-powered emergency resuscitators.
“ISO 13688:2013 Protective clothing – General requirements.
“ISO 17510:2015 Medical devices – Sleep apnoea breathing therapy – Masks and application accessories.
“ISO 19223:2019 Lung ventilators and related equipment -Vocabulary and semantics.
“ISO 22301:2019 Security and resilience – Business continuity management systems – Requirements.
“ISO 5356-1:2015 Anaesthetic and respiratory equipment – Conical connectors – Part 1: Cones and sockets.
“ISO 80601-2-12: 2020 Medical electrical equipment – Part 2-12: Particular requirements for basic safety and essential performance of critical care ventilators.
“ISO 80601-2-80: 2018 Medical electrical equipment – Part 2-80: Particular requirements for basic safety and essential performance of ventilatory support equipment for ventilatory insufficiency.’’
Aboloma said that the TC would also consider the adoption of a French National Standard “AFNOR SPEC S76-001 Barrier Masks – Guide to minimum requirements, methods of testing, making and use.’’
This, he said, would provide necessary quality guidance for mass production of face masks in the country, especially by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). (NAN)
April 8, 2020
Zenith Bank deploys automated voice banking service to ease transactions
Zenith International Bank Plc has introduced an automated voice banking service, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solution to enable customers perform basic banking transactions.
Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the bank’s Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, said on Wednesday in Lagos that the IVR solution was launched to ensure convenient service to customers.
Onyeagwu said the IVR solution would enable customers perform basic banking transactions by dialing a dedicated phone line through their registered phone numbers and following the prompts.
“By simply dialing +234 (1) 278 7000 from the phone number linked to their accounts and following the prompts, customers can pay DSTV/GOTV bills, restrict their accounts or block their cards, request account statement via email, view the last five transactions, transfer funds, buy airtime, among others.
“Zenith automated voice banking service is designed to ensure a truly amazing experience that will offer convenience for our teeming customers,” Onyeagwu said in a statement.
He added that the self-service product offered quick response to customers in addition to security entrenched by the multilayer authentication mechanism.
Onyeagwu urged the bank’s customers to take advantage of this unique service, particularly at this critical time when the physical interface with the Bank had been greatly impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic.
“Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service quality, unique customer experience and sound financial indices.
“The bank remains a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions,” he added.
According to him, the bank’s commitment to world-class service standards has led to several product innovations over the last couple of months.
“As a testament to its excellent performance, commitment to best-in-class service and recognition as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria, Zenith Bank was ranked as the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto and Co.
“The bank was also voted as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria 2019 by the World Finance and emerged as Bank of the Year and Best Bank in Retail Banking at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards,” he said. (NAN)
April 8, 2020
Tokyo Olympics qualification period suspended until Dec. 1
Track and field’s world governing body, World Athletics, on Tuesday announced that the qualification period for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games had been suspended effective from Monday.
World Athletics said the suspension, which would be until Nov. 30, followed consultations with its Athletes’ Commission, Area Presidents and Council.
“During this period, results achieved at any competition will not be considered for Tokyo 2020 entry standards or world rankings, the publication of which will also be suspended,’’ the body stated in a report.
It however noted that results would continue to be recorded for statistical purposes, including for world records, subject to the applicable conditions.
“But they will not be used to establish an athlete’s qualification status.’’
World Athletics said further that the suspension would no longer be in place by Dec. 1.
“Subject to the global situation returning to normal, the qualification period will resume on Dec. 1 and continue to the new qualification deadline in 2021 set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“This will be based on the approved qualification period table.’’
It added that the total qualification period, which started in 2019, would be four months longer than it was originally.
Commenting on the decision, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “I am grateful for the detailed work and feedback from our Athletes’ Commission and Council.
“They believe that suspending Olympic qualification during this period gives more certainty for athlete planning and preparation.
“They also believe it is the best way to address fairness in what is expected to be the uneven delivery of competition opportunities across the globe for athletes, given the challenges of international travel and government border restrictions.”
World Athletics pointed out that athletes who have already met the entry standard since the start of the qualification period in 2019 remain qualified.
“They will be eligible for selection by their respective Member Federations and National Olympic Committees (NOCs), together with the other athletes who will qualify within the extended qualification period.
“The end of the Olympic qualification periods are May 31 in 2021 (for 50km race walk and marathon) and June 29 in 2021 for all other events.’’
The world athletics body further stated that qualification starting dates for entry standards and world rankings remain unchanged with many athletes already qualified by meeting the entry standards during 2019.
The qualification period is now from Dec. 1 to May 31 or June 29 in 2021, depending on the event.
This means the eligible qualification period is longer than the original period by an additional four months, and it has taken into account the eight-month suspension period.(NAN)
April 8, 2020
Pandemic forces postponement of Canadian F1 Grand Prix
The June 14 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal joined a growing list of Formula One races postponed due to the new coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, with the 2020 season yet to get on the starting grid.
The race is the ninth to be affected by the virus, with the March 15 season-opening Australian Grand Prix cancelled along with May’s showcase Monaco Grand Prix.
Commercial rights holder Liberty Media hopes to get the championship started in the European summer with a reduced and greatly rearranged schedule of between 15 and 18 races that could run into the New Year.
“At the moment it is crucial that all of our energies be put together to overcome COVID-19. We will welcome you with open arms at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Canadian Grand Prix CEO Francois Dumontier.
The race is promoted by Octane Racing Group and organisers said the decision to postpone, after regular discussions with city authorities and Formula One, was not taken lightly.
“We have heard the directives issued by public health officials and as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic are following the expert guidance provided by the authorities,” added the organisers.
Almost half the COVID-19 cases in Canada are in the province of Quebec, of which Montreal is the largest city, where premier Francois Legault said on Sunday he hoped to see new diagnoses peak in a number of weeks.
He also extended a shutdown of non-essential businesses for another three weeks to May 4.
Formula One chairman Chase Carey said Formula One supported the “necessary decision to ensure the safety of fans and F1 community.
“We always look forward to travelling to the incredible city of Montreal and while we will all have to wait a bit longer, we will put on a great show when we arrive later this year,” he added.
Organisers said tickets would remain valid and spectators will be informed of their options when a new date was decided.
Canada will have two drivers this season with Nicholas Latifi a rookie at Williams while Lance Stroll continues at Racing Point, a team owned by his father Lawrence.
“Naturally, I’m sad that I’ll have to wait for the chance to race at my home F1 event,” said Latifi on his website.
“Since I’ve been competing, my ambition has been to represent my country at the highest level. And I’ve been looking forward to June’s race in Montreal ever since I was announced as a driver with Williams.
“But as action to control the spread of the virus stepped up, and other Montreal festivals were delayed or cancelled, today’s news was inevitable, I guess.”
Formula One now has to try to reschedule races in Bahrain, Vietnam, China, Azerbaijan, the Netherlands and Spain as well as Canada with France, Austria and Britain looking likely to join the list.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone has set an April deadline to decide whether it can go ahead. (Reuters)
April 8, 2020
COVID-19: Enugu residents transact businesses, defy sit-at-home order
Some Residents defied the sit-at-home order as they went about their daily activities in some parts of the metropolis with buyers and sellers transacting businesses.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Correspondent who monitored the situation on Wednesday, observed that some shops and markets were with people buying, selling and rendering services.
The situation was not different from other days as many did not observe the precautionary measures of social distancing.
The situation was not different at some motor parks as commercial drivers were carrying passengers, although keeping to the directives of two passengers on a seat row.
Some sellers, who spoke to NAN, said it was difficult for everyone to keep to the directives of sitting-at-home because most buyers were daily income earners, who could not stock their homes with enough foodstuff that could last for two weeks.
Mrs Regina Azubike, a fruit seller at Top land market, Amechi/Ebony paint road, said she had not observed the sit-at-home order since it began.
Mrs Chika Umah, a respondent explained that it was not easy to maintain social distancing in markets because the number of people coming into the market for business transactions was high.
“How do you intend to control all these people, especially now that everyone is struggling to buy his or her needs with the little money in their pockets?,” she asked.
Mr Fred Eke, a commercial driver at Garki motor park, said he was loading his vehicle according to government directive.
Eke said that sit-at-home order was not supposed to affect commercial drivers because those going to market to get food must be transported with commercial vehicles.
“We should also be exempted so as to continue to serve the public as many going to get foodstuff need commercial drivers to take and bring them home,” he said.
Mrs Virginia Ekwo, a hair stylist at Achara-Layout said she needed to open her shop so as to get some money to feed her family.
Ekwo added that many had been patronizing her in her hair style business since the sit-at-home order commenced.
Mrs Stella Onyia, a fashion designer said that although, the sit-at-home directive was a good thing done by the government as it was to save people’s lives but everyone needed to feed his family
“The directive is good for everyone but since there is no palliative from the government, we need to go out to make some money in order to feed our families,” Onyia said.
A buyer, Miss Felicia Obioha said that the precautionary measure like placing water and soap at strategic point in the market and parks could not be followed by the public.
Obioha added that the number of buyers and sellers in the market was high for the precautionary measures to be followed.(NAN)
April 8, 2020
COVID-19: Kaduna family deserts home as returnee allegedly presents symptoms
Some residents of Kurmi Kaduna Community in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna state, were on Wednesday, thrown into confusion after a Lagos-returnee presented feverish symptoms.
The community members became more confused as family members of a 27-year-old man (names with held) ,who returned from Lagos on April 5, deserted their home after he (returnee) presented feverish symptom similar to that of Coronavirus.
Malam Liman Hamsu, the Village Head of Kurmin Kaduna, told NAN that when the man displayed symptoms of high fever, his family members ran away from the house thinking he was having Coronavirus.
“The family ran away when the suspect began vomiting and exhibiting symptoms of high fever.
”Thereafter, the entire community became tensed because all family members of the suspect ran away from him, thinking the man might have absconded from Lagos isolation center to take refuge in Kaduna,” Hamsu said.
According to him, members of the community had to call the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and health representatives from Igabi LGA, who said that the symptoms had no correlation with COVID-19.
”After several calls to the NCDC, the Centre sent representatives to our community to see the patient’s situation.
“Also, member of the health team from Igabi LGA came and confirmed that the suspected case was negative, without taking any sample,” he added.
He then appealed to members of the family to return as the case had been confirmed negative, adding that only the return of the members would allay the fears of the entire community. (NAN)
April 8, 2020
R. Kelly loses bid to leave detention over coronavirus
A United States district court has rejected a request by R&B singer, R. Kelly, to be released from prison custody over the coronavirus pandemic.
Kelly, 53, is currently in detention at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago where he awaits trial for multiple charges, including sexual exploitation of children.
The charges are filed in federal courts in Illinois, Chicago, and New York. He has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
On March 26, the Grammy award winner, in separate applications in Chicago and New York, asked to be released from custody to avoid contracting the coronavirus which is wreaking havoc in the country.
He had argued that both his age and his recent surgery for hernia put him at a high risk for catching the coronavirus, according to the New York Post.
The ‘Your Body is Calling’ crooner needed approval from both courts to live with his girlfriend, Joycelyn Savage, at her Chicago residence, while awaiting trial.
But Justice Ann Donnelly of the Eastern District of New York, who is presiding over one of the two federal cases against the singer, was not convinced.
Ruling on the application on Tuesday, Donnelly said there had not been any reported cases of COVID-19, among Kelly’s fellow inmates in Chicago, the paper reported.
“While I am sympathetic to the defendant’s understandable anxiety about COVID-19, he has not established compelling reasons warranting his release.
“The defendant is currently in custody because of the risks that he will flee or attempt to obstruct, threaten or intimidate prospective witnesses.
“The defendant has not explained how those risks have changed,” Donnelly said in her ruling.(NAN)
April 8, 2020
UN defends WHO against allegation of being China-centric on COVID-19
The United Nations (UN) has defended the World Health Organisation (WHO) against criticisms that it gave bad advice during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in China.
The criticisms were coming from U.S. politicians, including President Donald Trump, who alleged on Tuesday evening that WHO was “China-centric”.
Speaking at the daily coronavirus taskforce news briefing in Washington, Trump accused the global health body of being too focused on China.
The president said the organisation made the wrong decisions about the initial coronavirus outbreak, including advising against border closure against China.
“The WHO blew it, they really blew it, for some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look.
“Fortunately, I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?”
“We are going to put a hold on money spent to WHO. We’re going to put a very powerful hold on it and we’re gonna see.
“They seem to err always on the side of China, we will look at ending funding because you know they called it wrong,” he said.
But spokesperson to the UN Secretary-General, Mr Stephane Dujarric, dismissed the criticism, saying WHO had done “tremendous work on COVID-19”.
“For the Secretary-General, it is clear that WHO, under the leadership of Dr Tedros, has done tremendous work on COVID-19.
“This includes supporting countries with millions of equipment being shipped out, on helping countries with training, on providing global guidelines.
“WHO is showing the strength of the international health system,” he told newsmen in New York.
Before Trump’s comments, some U.S. lawmakers had asked WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, to resign for allegedly allowing China to cover up the true impact of the disease.
Republican Senator Martha McSally said that the 3,331 deaths reported by the Chinese government was far less than the actual figure.
Speaking on Fox News, McSally said WHO D-G should be partly blamed for China’s lack of transparency in its reporting of the outbreak.
“Dr Tedros deceived the world. At one point, he even praised China’s ‘transparency during its coronavirus response efforts.
“This was despite a mountain of evidence showing the regime concealed the severity of the outbreak. This deception cost lives,” she said.
Texan Republican Senator, Ted Cruz, also called on WHO to consider replacing the director-general.
Cruz said WHO had “consistently bent to the will of the Chinese Communist Party at the expense containing the spread of the coronavirus”.
According to British newspaper, Daily Daily, when China reported 17,238 infections and 361 deaths in February, Ghebreyesus said there was no need for other countries to shut their borders against it.
He said measures that “unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade” were not needed in trying to halt the spread of the virus, the paper reported.
The report further stated that the D-G on March 20 praised the Chinese government for the lack of new domestic #COVID19 cases.
China has recorded 3,331 COVID-19 deaths and 81,708 infections, but many have speculated that this number is much higher and that China is trying to cover up the true reality of the spread, according to the paper.(NAN)
April 8, 2020
EU talks on COVID fiscal stimulus plan postponed amid disarray
Efforts by European Union (EU) finance ministers to strike a deal on a package of coronavirus-related fiscal measures ended in disarray early on Wednesday, with talks due to resume later this week.
After 16 hours of discussions that began on Tuesday afternoon, “we came close to a deal but we are not there yet,” Mario Centeno, head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, wrote on Twitter.
He added that the talks would resume on Thursday.
The ministers were debating a trio of proposed measures with a joint firepower of around half a trillion euros (540 billion dollars).
These consist of a precautionary credit line from the eurozone’s bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM); a guarantee fund from the European Investment Bank for business liquidity; and EU support for the salaries of workers who would otherwise be laid off.
However, a more controversial element – championed by Italy in particular – was the insistence on common debt issuance, frequently referred to as coronabonds, as a tool to overcome the major economic contraction anticipated across the bloc this year.
EU leaders had given the finance ministers two weeks to agree on a set of proposed measures, at a summit on March 26 at which they were unable to reach a compromise on the thorny issue.
By Wednesday morning, EU diplomats reported that German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire – representing opposing camps in the debate – were in agreement on the way forward.
However, Italy remained insistent that any ESM disbursement must come without any of the usual conditions attached, while refusing to give way on the issue of joint bonds.
These demands are anathema to the Netherlands in particular.
“In these difficult hours, Europe must stand together closely.
“Together with (Le Maire), I therefore call on all euro countries not to refuse to resolve these difficult financial issues and to facilitate a good compromise – for all citizens,” Scholz tweeted on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, his Italian counterpart Roberto Gualtieri called on the ministers to step up to the challenge of COVID-19.
“It is time for common responsibility, for solidarity and for bold and shared decisions,” he wrote on Twitter.
Many see the division over coronabonds, which echoes the north-south divide that emerged during the eurocrisis, as a more fundamental schism between different European value systems. (dpa/NAN)
April 8, 2020