Health

Russia Reports Nearly 10,000 Coronavirus Cases, 379 Deaths

By Web News 540

Russia has reported 9,977 new COVID-19 infections over the past twenty-four hours.

The government coronavirus task force reported on Tuesday that the tally included 3,817 cases in the capital, Moscow.

This brings the official national infection tally to 5,145,843.

The task force also said 379 people had died of coronavirus-related causes in the last twenty-four hours, pushing the death toll to 124,496.

On Friday, Russia’s statistics service, which keeps its own records, said around 270,000 people had died from COVID-19 and related causes from April 2020 to April 2021.

Russia is the 6th country worst-hit by the deadly respiratory disease globally, behind the US, India, Brazil, Mexico and the UK.

FRCN, Abuja

Health

Obasanjo Calls for Collective Efforts in Tackling Coronavirus

By Web News 611

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for collective efforts to tackle Coronavirus.

The former president disclosed this in Abeokuta while speaking at a colloquium to celebrate his eighty fourth birthday at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

Chief Obasanjo, who shared his Covid-19 positive experience, urged African leaders to pool their resources to get the vaccines to fight the virus.

He stressed that If Africa does not have the facilities to produce vaccine, the leadership should come together and do collective purchase of the vaccine from the producers.

The former president urged Nigerian government to continue enforcing the use of nose mask, social distancing and sanitizers as being done by countries producing the vaccines.

The colloquium organized, which was held virtually and physically simultaneously, had as its topic, “Reflection on Governance and Changes for Post – pandemic Leadership in Africa” with hundreds of online participants from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Singapore and Nigeria.

Chief Obasanjo recalled his family’s experience of isolation between the period he tested positive and when he got another result of being negative to COVID-19, describing the experience as worrisome.

Foreign

Ghana Re-Imposes Ban On Social Gatherings As Coronavirus Cases Surge

By Web News 599

Ghana has re-imposed a ban on social gatherings as the number of Covid-19 cases spiral in the country, the president, Nana Akufo-Addo, announced Sunday.

Schools reopened in January after a 10-month closure, but President Nana Akufo-Addo said a return to stricter measures was needed.

“Until further notice, funerals, weddings, concerts, theatrical performances, and parties are banned,” he said in a televised speech.

Justifying the restrictions, Akufo-Addo said: “Our hospitals have become full, and we have had to reactivate our isolation centres.”

The new measures on social gatherings come as the average daily rates of infection is at 700, compared to 200 two weeks ago.

Land and sea borders are closed since March, while beaches, night clubs, cinemas, and pubs continue to be shut.

Economic growth is expected to plummet this year to its lowest in three decades, to 0.9 per cent according to the International Monetary Fund, from 6.5 per cent in 2019.

As of January 31, Ghana had recorded 67,010 confirmed cases and 416 deaths.

Today.NG

Religion

Always be grateful for your life – Bishop Abegunrin

By Web News 1059

Nigerians are enjoined to always appreciate God despite the threat of the Coronavirus currently ravaging the world.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria the Diocesan Bishop, St Mary’s Cathedral, Oke Padre, Ogunpa, Ibadan, Most Reverend Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin made this known in his Christmas message.

Archbishop Abegunrin encouraged Nigerians to not only make demands while praying but always be thankful to God for being alive.

The Archbishop urged Nigerians to take responsibility by working toward the progress and peace of the country.

Funmilola Obagbayegun

Foreign

Covid: WHO in ‘Close Contact’ with UK over New Virus Variant

By Web News 619

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it is in “close contact” with UK officials over the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus.

The new variant is spreading more rapidly than the original version, but is not believed to be more deadly.

Large parts of south-east England, including London, are now under a new, stricter level of restrictions in a bid to curb the rapidly spreading virus.

There is no evidence to suggest the new variant reacts differently to vaccines.

On Sunday, the Netherlands introduced a ban on passenger flights from the UK because of the new variant. The ban will remain in place until 1 January, the Dutch government said.

The move comes after sampling of a case in the Netherlands earlier this month revealed the same new variant of coronavirus as that found in the UK.

Pending “greater clarity” on the situation in the UK, it said “the risk of the new virus strain being introduced to the Netherlands should be minimised as much as possible”.

The Dutch government also said it would work with other European Union member states in the coming days to “explore the scope for further limiting the risk of the new strain of the virus being brought over from the UK”.

What do we know about the new variant?

The WHO tweeted that it was in contact with UK officials over the new variant.

It said the UK was sharing information from ongoing studies into the mutation, and that the WHO would update member states and the public “as we learn more about the characteristics of this virus variant [and] any implications”.

Although there is “considerable uncertainty”, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new variant may be up to 70% more transmissible than the old one.

But officials say there is no current evidence to suggest the new variant causes a higher mortality rate or that it is affected any differently by vaccines and treatments.

“I think this is a situation which is going to make things a lot worse, but there are some really optimistic things if you look once we get the vaccine out, assuming the vaccine works against this, which at the moment is the working assumption,” said England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty.

BBC

Foreign

Covid-19: Explosion Kills Nine Coronavirus Patients in Turkey

By Web News 683

Nine people have been killed after an oxygen ventilator exploded at a hospital treating coronavirus patients in southern Turkey, officials say.

The blast caused a fire in the intensive care unit of the private Sanko University Hospital in Gaziantep, the local governor’s office said.

At least one of the patients died while being transferred to another hospital.

Turkey has recorded nearly two million coronavirus cases and 17,610 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

No injuries were reported in relation to the fire, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning and was quickly put out.

The victims were aged between 56 and 85, the hospital said in a statement.

An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the explosion.

Several other patients being treated at the same ward were transferred to receive treatment at nearby hospitals, the Gaziantep governor’s office said.

“Authorities have taken the necessary measures,” the statement said, while offering condolences to the families of the victims.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted to wish “urgent healing to the wounded”, adding: “Get well soon, Gaziantep.”

Last month, a fire at a hospital in Romania killed 10 patients receiving treatment for Covid-19. Reports suggested that a medical appliance caught fire, igniting a nearby oxygen cylinder.

In October, more than 150 patients at a makeshift coronavirus hospital in the Russian region of Chelyabinsk had to be evacuated when an explosion in an “oxygen booth” caused a fire, Russia’s emergencies ministry said.

BBC

Sport

Coronavirus: Football Team Loses 37-0 in Socially Distanced Match

By Web News 739

A German football team lost 37-0 to their local rivals after fielding only seven players who socially distanced throughout the match.

Ripdorf fielded the minimum number of players on Sunday because their opponents SV Holdenstedt II came into contact in a previous game with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

Their team tested negative but Ripdorf said the conditions were not safe.

If Ripdorf had not played, they would have faced a €200 (£182) fine.

They had asked for the match – in the 11th tier of German football – to be postponed but the local association refused.

Ripdorf said they did not feel safe as at the time of the game 14 days had not yet passed since Holdenstedt players had come into contact with the person who tested positive.

Holdenstedt’s first team did not play in the match and the club fielded their second team.

At the beginning of the match, one of Ripdorf’s players stepped onto the pitch, passed the ball to an opponent and the team then walked to the sidelines.

Ripdorf co-chair Patrick Ristow told ESPN: “The Holdenstedt players did not understand. But we did not want to risk anything.”

He added of his players: “They did not go into direct duels and observed the social distancing rules, keeping two metres between them and Holdenstedt players.”

Holdenstedt did not hold back, scoring a goal every two or three minutes.

“There was no reason not to play this game,” Holdenstedt coach Florian Schierwater said.

BBC

Sport

2019/2020 UEFA, Europa League Matches Resume

By Web News 1281

UEFA Champions League and Europa League will resume this week to clear up the last remaining matches of the tournaments.

The two competitions were suspended in March due to Coronavirus pandemic.

The Champions League will move to Lisbon, Portugal, for the quarterfinal starting on twelfth of this month, while the final will be played at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz, on twenty-third of this month.

Also, the Europa League, will be played at different venues in the western part of Germany, with the last eight beginning on tenth of this month, while the final will be played in Cologne, Germany on twenty-first of this month.

Fixtures to be played in the UEFA Europa League

Wednesday 5th August

FC Copenhagen will take on Istanbul Buyuksehir as Shakhtar Donetsk battles Wolfsburg.

Inter Milan slug it out with Getafe while Manchester United takes on Linz ASK.

Thursday 6th August 2020

Bayer Leverkusen hosts Rangers with Sevilla and Roma battling it out in Spain.

It is FC Basel versus Eintracht Frankfurt while Wolverhampton Wanderers face Olympiakos FC.

Fixtures to be played in the 2nd leg round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League

Juventus FC will host French side Lyon who hold a one-goal advantage from the first leg encounter at the Juventus Stadium Turin, while England’s Manchester City will face reigning La Liga Champions, Real Madrid who are trailing them 2-1 at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Both matches will be played on Friday 7th of August 2020 by 8PM Nigerian time.

On Saturday 8th August in Munich, Bayern will look to complete the job against Chelsea FC of England, over who they have a commanding 3 goal advantage from the 1st leg played at the Stamford Bridge back in February.

The second match will be between Barcelona FC of Spain who play hosts to Napoli at the Camp Nou with the game finely balanced at 1-1.

Olaolu Fawole/Maxwell Oyekunle

Foreign

Coronavirus: Oxford Vaccine Triggers Immune Response

By Web News 717

A coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford appears safe and triggers an immune response.

Trials involving 1,077 people showed the injection led to them making antibodies and T-cells that can fight coronavirus.

The findings are hugely promising, but it is still too soon to know if this is enough to offer protection and larger trials are under way.

The UK has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine.

The vaccine – called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 – is being developed at unprecedented speed.

It is made from a genetically engineered virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees.

It has been heavily modified, first so it cannot cause infections in people and also to make it “look” more like coronavirus.

Scientists did this by transferring the genetic instructions for the coronavirus’s “spike protein” – the crucial tool it uses to invade our cells – to the vaccine they were developing.

This means the vaccine resembles the coronavirus and the immune system can learn how to attack it.

BBC

Lifestyle

President Buhari Wishes Onyeama Quick Recovery

By Web News 742

President Muhammadu Buhari wishes Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, quick recovery as he goes into isolation after testing positive to Covid-19 on Sunday.

In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said President Buhari described the minister as a strong pillar of his administration, commending him for tirelessly working to stem the spread of coronavirus in the country as a member of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, and ensuring the safety of Nigerians abroad.

It explained that the country is eternally grateful to Geoffrey Onyeama for his diligence in attracting international support for Nigeria to defeat the coronavirus pandemic and boost the economy.

Bello Wakili

News Analysis

As World Population Day 2020 is being celebrated

By Web News 1185

World Population Day is celebrated on the 11th of July every year.

It aims to increase people’s awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights.

World Population Day, which seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, was established by the then-governing council of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, in 1989.

This year’s World Population Day calls for global attention to the unfinished business of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development.

The largest countries in the world in terms of population are China and India, with both countries now having population of well over a billion.

The United States comes in third with just under 325 million residents.

According to Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data, the current population of Nigeria is over two hundred and six million as of Tuesday, July 7, 2020.

The theme for this year’s celebration is to raise awareness of women’s and girls’ needs for sexual and reproductive health and vulnerabilities during the pandemic.

No doubt, the Covid-19 crisis has taken a staggering toll on people, communities and economies everywhere.

Women, who account for the largest share of front-line health workers, for example, are disproportionately exposed to the coronavirus.

As countries are on lockdown and health systems struggle to cope, sexual and reproductive health services are being sidelined and gender-based violence is on the rise.

A recent research conducted by United Nations Population Fund, UNPF, highlighted that if the lockdown continues for six months with major disruptions to health services, then forty-seven million women in low-and middle-income countries may not be able to access modern contraceptives resulting in seven million unintended pregnancies.

Also, thirty-one million additional cases of gender-based violence can also be expected, while there is a great tendency of two million cases of female genital cutting and thirteen million child marriages between 2020 and 2030.

Now is the time for the federal government to underscore the importance of accurate population data not only for development, but also for addressing the nation’s health emergencies, such as Covid-19.

The various programmes of the federal government at putting smiles on the faces of vulnerable women in the Covid-19 era should be commended and there is need to intensify efforts at letting the programmes reach every woman at the grassroots.

Governments need up-to-date knowledge of population densities in major cities, as these are locations of higher transmission of the virus.

There must be measures to address gender-based violence and child protection in Covid-19, response and recovery plans and ensure that plans are gender and age responsive.

All stakeholders including the girl and youth-focused groups should be safely and meaningfully involved in the development of plans, which will put an end to the various challenges facing women and girls.

Olaolu Fawole

Education

Schools’ Resumption: We are prepared to protect further spread of Covid-19 – Oyo Govt.

By Web News 785

As students in primary and secondary schools in Oyo State are preparing to resume on next Monday 6th July 2020, the state government has announced various measures that have been put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus in schools.

The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, who made this known today at his office in Ibadan, said various trainings have been given to categories of school heads, principals and teachers on how to monitor and report any symptom of Covid-19 to the authority.

Mr Olaleye said the state had set up Emergency Operation Centers, EOCs, in the state capital and at the zonal levels and had appointed Incident Managers for each school who would report any emergency directly to the EOCs through special communication lines.

He stated further that each class would have a Warder whose duty is to relate his or her observations to the Incident Managers .

Among the measures are compulsory hand-washing points at the school entrances and at the entrance of each classroom as well as alcohol-based sanitizer for the use of students and teachers.

Heads and teachers of public and private schools had been trained on Covid-19 prevention measures as schools resume .

He added that each school had been mandated to strictly enforce social distancing and observe other protocols against Covid-19 among teachers and students as laid down by NCDC.

Mr Olasunkanmi said the fear being exercised by the general public over the resumption was appreciated by the government, as it had helped the administration to still go deeply into keeping to stringent measures to avert the spread of the virus.

Oyo State Government announced that teachers of public schools in the state should resume on Monday 29th of June in preparation for the July 6th students’ resumption.

Signed:

Wasiu Olatubosun,

Hon. Commissioner for information, Culture and Tourism,

Ibadan. Wednesday 1st of July, 2020.

Sport

Oyo Sports Commissioner Tests Positive for Coronavirus

By Web News 1142

Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Seun Fakorede says he has tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr Fakorede made this known via his Twitter handle, @TheSeunFakorede this morning. 

He said despite testing positive, he is asymptomatic and would remain in isolation until he fully recover from the virus.

The Youth and Sports Commissioner maintained that COVID 19 was not a death sentence and appealed to Nigerians to comply strictly to the directives of the COVID-19 Task force to minimize the spread of the virus.

Olaolu Fawole

Foreign

Coronavirus: ‘Very Significant’ Resurgences in Europe Alarm WHO

By Web News 740 Post a comment

Europe has seen an increase in weekly cases of Covid-19 for the first time in months as restrictions are eased, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

In 11 countries, which include Armenia, Sweden, Moldova and North Macedonia, accelerated transmission has led to “very significant resurgence”, said Regional Director Dr Hans Henri Kluge.

His warnings about the risk of resurgence had become reality, he said.

If left unchecked, he warned health systems would be “pushed to the brink”.

More than 2.6 million cases of Covid-19 and 195,000 deaths have been reported in the WHO’s European region, which is expansive, covering 54 countries and seven territories across Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Almost 20,000 new cases and more than 700 new deaths are being recorded daily.

“For weeks, I have spoken about the risk of resurgence as countries adjust measures,” Dr Kluge told a virtual news conference on Thursday.

“In several countries across Europe, this risk has now become a reality – 30 countries have seen increases in new cumulative cases over the past two weeks.

“In 11 of these countries, accelerated transmission has led to very significant resurgence that if left unchecked will push health systems to the brink once again.”

The 11 countries were later identified by the WHO as Armenia, Sweden, Moldova, North Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Kosovo.

Dr Kluge said countries such as Poland, Germany, Spain and Israel had responded quickly to dangerous outbreaks associated with schools, coal mines, and food production settings, and brought them under control through rapid interventions.

Despite warning about resurgences, he said the WHO anticipated that the situation would calm down further in the majority of countries over the summer.

“But we have indeed to prepare for the fall, when Covid-19 may meet seasonal influenza, pneumonia, other diseases as well, because ultimately the virus is still actively circulating in our communities and there is no effective treatment, no effective vaccine, yet.”

BBC

Health

Infant Tests Positive for COVID-19 in Abeokuta

By Web News 758

A two and half year old girl has tested positive for Coronavirus at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.

A statement by the Head, Public Relations and Information of the hospital, Mr. Segun Orisajo explained that the girl was admitted into the facility over a week ago for difficulty in breathing.

According to him, investigations carried out on the patient due to the persisted high temperature, made the doctors to isolate her.

Mr. Orisajo said no member of staff or other patients were unduly exposed to the patient before the result came out positive.

The head of the Public Relations department said the suspicion of care givers on the third day led to the testing for corona virus while her treatment was on going.

Mr. Orisajo stated that the girl is currently receiving treatment at the center’s isolation ward while the facility where she was initially admitted had been disinfected.

In the meantime, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu has given assurance that the hospital management had initiated contact tracing of other family members of the COVID-19 patient.

Wale Oluokun

Foreign

Coronavirus: Brazil Becomes Second Country to Hit One Million Cases

By Web News 660

Brazil has become the second country in the world to confirm more than one million cases of Covid-19, as the disease continues to spread.

The health ministry also posted a record number of new cases in the past 24 hours – more than 54,000.

In addition, there were more than 1,200 deaths for the fourth consecutive day, taking the total to nearly 49,000.

A lack of testing suggests the true figures are higher and experts say the outbreak is weeks away from its peak.

The new figure was revealed hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the pandemic was entering a “new and dangerous” phase, with its director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warning that cases were rising at the same time as people are growing weary of lockdowns and governments are seeking to restart their economies.

Latin America is among the areas currently seeing a spike in infections. There are major outbreaks in a number of countries, including Chile and Peru, while Mexico became the seventh country to officially surpass 20,000 virus-related deaths on Friday.

But only the US has seen more infections than Brazil, where far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has been heavily criticised for his response to the crisis. He has repeatedly clashed with state governors and mayors who have adopted strict restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, shutting down major cities.

Mr Bolsonaro argues that the economic impact of the measures will be much bigger than the virus itself, a position shared by many. But his overall approach to the crisis has led to the resignation of two doctors as health minister.

BBC

Lifestyle

Ogun Govt. Wants Business Owners to Fumigate Premises

By Web News 810

Ogun State government has announced that companies and businesses in the state are at liberty to engage any competent service provider of their choice for premises fumigation, provided the exercise is done according to standards that will minimise the spread of coronavirus. 

The government’s clarification on guidelines for decontamination of Industry and business premises is coming on the heels of reports that companies and businesses were been forced to patronize identified service providers at exorbitant rates. 

In a statement in Abeokuta, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kunle Somorin maintained that there was no government accredited decontamination service provider for the exercise.

He emphasised that the public health initiative was never intended as a platform for revenue generation, contrary to any information that might have been erroneously disseminated to the public by the State Ministry of Environment. 

Mr Somorin said the move was part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in work places by ensuring safe and conducive environment for both public and private sector workers as well as to prevent community spread of the virus.

Bolanle Adesida

Lifestyle

Osun Government Makes Facemasks Compulsory

By Web News 706

Osun state government has ordered the compulsory use of face mask in the state to contain spread of Coronavirus.

A statement by Osun state Commissioner of Police, Mr Undie Adie, says the step became imperative in face of a surge in cases of Covid-19 in the country.

Mr Adie directed police personnel to arrest any person that violates the directive as well as ensure total enforcement of the guidelines.

He urged the residents to continue to maintain social distancing, regular washing of hand with soap as well as the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

The commissioner for police enjoined them to cooperate with government and Nigeria police so as to contain the spread of the virus of the state.

Wasiu Ajadosu

Health

Two New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed in Osun

By Web News 861

Osun state Government has confirmed two new cases of Coronavirus in the state.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Health, Doctor Rafiu Isamotu indicated that the two new patients were relatives of an earlier confirmed case from Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area of the state.

Doctor Isamotu said the detection of the additional two new cases has jerked up the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 49.

He noted that the state had successfully treated and discharged 36 patients while 4 deaths had been recorded since the outbreak of the pandemic in the state.

The commissioner hinted that the state now has nine active cases of the virus.

Wasiu Ajadosu

Health

Covid-19: Oyo State Government Begins Mass Testing

By Web News 1294

Oyo State government has commenced community mass testing for Covid-19.

The community testing began in the three local government areas of Lagelu, Oluyole and Ibadan South East.

Commissioner for Information, Oyo State (in blue, @ the foreground) Dr Wasiu Olatubosun at St Stephen’s Anglican Primary School, Alegongo, Akobo Ojurin one of the venues of the Mass testing

Speaking at the flag-off, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun who noted that the state had tested over 3000 persons, said the mass testing would assist government on the exact data to work with to determine other ways to prevent the spread of the disease. 

Some of the health workers taking samples at St Stepen Anglican Primary School, Alegongo, Akobo Ojurin Venue of the Mass testing

Dr Olatunbosun however said government would take over responsibilities of people who might end up with positive results. 

State Coordinator of Emergency Operation Center in the state, Dr Olabode Oladipo said the community testing became imperative in view of increasing cases of Coronavirus in the state.

Caretaker Chairman, Lagelu Local Government, Mr Gbadamosi Kazeem urged residents of the council to take advantage of the testing to know their status early.

Some of the participants commended the Oyo State government for the initiative.

The mass testing which targets 10000 people is to guide government on other areas to look into in its bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.

Iyabo Adebisi

Technology

Blacksmiths Appeal for Government’s Support, Donate Hand-washing Device to FRCN

By Web News 1103 Post a comment

National Blacksmith, Welders and Iron Benders Association, Oyo State chapter has donated a hand-washing device to the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Ibadan Zonal Station, Dugbe, Ibadan.

The device which has a height of about four feet is operated with a pedal to avoid touching the metal.

Governor of the association, Mr Munirudeen Adegoke said the association made the device to contribute their quota to the fight against coronavirus.

Mr Adegoke noted that the metal device would encourage better hygiene and aid the physical distancing campaign.

He also used the medium to call on the government to assist them in production of such device which according to him should be in all public places.

Receiving the device on behalf of the Zonal Director FRCN, Ibadan Zonal Station, Alhaji Muhammed Bello, Deputy Director, Marketing, Mrs Bolanle Owoyemi appreciated the association and pledged the readiness of radio Nigeria to collaborate with them.

Adedayo Adelowo

Politics

Lockdown: Ogun Govt Eases Movement Ban

By Web News 746

The weekly restriction of movement in Ogun State has been shifted to Weekends only. 

Governor Dapo Abiodun who made the announcement in Abeokuta said the government would enforce total lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays while there would be free movement across the state every week day, between 6am and 8pm.

Governor Abiodun who explained that the new arrangement would take effect from Monday 1st of June 2020, emphasised that inter-state movement ban, wearing of face masks and other existing guidelines to combat the virus remained sacrosanct. 

Governor Dapo Abiodun talking about the ease of the movement ban

Governor Abiodun pointed out that further relaxation of the lock down was not an indication that the curve of COVID 19 pandemic had been flattened and encouraged people who could work from home to continue to do so.

The Governor also disclosed that his administration was collaborating with religious leaders to work out the guidelines for the reopening of places of worship in the state.

Bolanle Adesida

Lifestyle

Delta Government Seeks Increased Media Collaboration on COVID-19

By Web News 673

Delta State Government has called for stronger ties with the media for continuous sensitization of the citizenry in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The State Commissioner for Information Mr. Charlse Aniagwu stated this during a visit to the Asaba Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.

Mr. Aniagwu, noted Delta State so far has fifty-one confirmed case of COVID-19, including thirty active cases, while attributing seven deaths recorded in the state to late reporting of ailment.

The commissioner also stressed that coronavirus is real and called for investigative journalism amongst practitioners to address misconceptions about the virus by some members of the public.

Earlier in a remark, Chairman Asaba Correspondent Chapel Mr. Paul Osuyi, appealed for collaboration with the state government to train journalists on proper reporting of the global health crises, and pledged the commitment of its members to pursue developmental and factual journalism.

Oghenero Eghweree

Religion

Alhaji Ajani Bello Charges Muslims on Ethical Practices

By Web News 885

Muslim faithful have been told to adhere strictly to ethical practices at all times.

Prominent Islamic preacher, Alhaji Muhideen Ajani Bello stated this in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Ibadan.

Alhaji Bello stressed that Muslims must be of Good conduct at all as they witness the end of the Ramadan fast.

Alhaji Bello noted that Muslim faithful must not be find wanting irrespective of any period they find themselves.

Lillian Ibomor

Health

284 New Cases of Coronavirus Recorded

By Web News 746

Nigeria has recorded 284 new cases of Coronavirus.

According to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, 199 were recorded in Lagos state, 26 in Rivers, 19 in Oyo, 8 in FCT, 8 in Borno, 7 in Plateau, 6 in Jigawa, 5 in Kano, 2 in Abia, 1 in Ekiti, Delta, Kwara, and Taraba respectively.

FRCN Abuja