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COVID-19: Don’t Panic, No Case Recorded In Calabar Yet

Published on March 31, 2020 by faveguyLeave a comment

The management of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, has said that there is no case of COVID-19 in the hospital.

It, however, confirmed that a patient was admitted into the designated isolation Center.

The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (C-MAC) of the hospital, Prof. Ogbu Ngim, told newsmen in Calabar that a patient was brought into the casualty department of the hospital with some upper respiratory tract infections.

Ngim said that the patient was neither sneezing nor having fever, adding that the person did not show any of the symptoms relating to COVID-19.
He, however, said that standard protocols had to be observed.

“As you know, in this period, even if you have ordinary malaria, people will think it is COVID-19, which is not correct.

“However, we observed what we call universal precaution on any case and she was taken to an isolation centre.
“We have followed the universal precaution and it is important to note that before you label a case as being COVID-19, there are protocols to follow.

“Those protocols have yet to be exhausted; we do not have a positive confirmatory test. As we speak, samples have been taken; we only observed what we call universal precaution on any case that you think maybe.

“This particular case is very unlikely to be; but at the same time, it is better to be on the side of caution than not apply the protocols. That is what we have done”, he said.

Ngim insisted that there was no recorded case of COVID-19 in Cross River as of March 31, adding that appropriate steps had been taken while awaiting the result of the investigation or the test.

He called on people to refrain from the practice of posting unconfirmed reports on social media, particularly at times like this.

“My advice is: let those who are wishing that we are visited in Cross River with the COVID-19 virus be positive in their thinking.

“Rather, let us all pray that the state will remain free of the pandemic. Let our mindset not be: ‘it is there, it is here”, he said.

Covid-19: Ayade Recalls Garment Factory Workers For Mass Production Of Masks

Published on March 30, 2020 by faveguyLeave a comment

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has recalled workers of the state- owned Garment Factory back to work, for the mass production of face and nose masks.

The workers are to resume work on March 31 after the factory had been disinfected.

The workers were initially sent home in line with the partial lock down declared by the governor as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking at the Industrial Park, Ayade told newsmen on Monday in Calabar that it has become imperative for the Garment Factory workers to return to work in view of the urgency of the need to tackle the deadly virus headlong.

“The Garment Factory workers are being recalled for mass production of nose/mouth masks in order to stem the pandemic.

“As the workers return to start mass production of the masks, we will ensure that they keep a reasonable distance from one another in keeping with the industrial distancing protocol”, he said.

Ayade disclosed that proper fumigation of the factory has been carried out preparatory to the resumption of the workers.

According to the governor, the returning Garment Factory workers will be properly kitted to ensure that they are fit for the purpose in addition to being paid special allowances.

“Working at this time when there is a general shut down requires a special compensation.

The Garment factory workers will be fairly compensated”, he said.
The governor disclosed that precautionary measures will also entail that the number of workers being recalled are manageable.

Ayade said he was equally activating the Cross River State Food Bank to ensure that food is delivered to most vulnerable in view of the lock down.

COVID-19: Nigeria Discharges 5 Covid-19 Patients In Lagos

Published on March 30, 2020 by faveguyLeave a comment

Nigeria on Monday discharged five coronavirus patients at the Infectious Disease Centre, Yaba Mainland Hospital, Lagos under the supervision of Lagos State Government and Lagos state ministry of health.

This brings to eight the total number of discharged patients from the Centre.

The patients are said to have fully recovered from the virus and tested negative after being quarantined for weeks.

Although the discharged patients preferred anonymity, they expressed joy and satisfaction over the treatments they received.

While thanking the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support and proactiveness, they pleaded that the workers at the Centre should be given life insurance.

While speaking to the press, one of the patients said, I came in here on the 15th and after the test showed positive, I was asked to come back the next day. So I was admitted here.

“Initially, there were hitches but it later turned out fine. The health workers did fine, all our challenges were attended to. I’m a living witness together with my other colleagues.”

He gave an impressive hope, saying people should not panic as the virus could be defeated.
“We can beat it, I want to assure others that this is not their resting place. Encourage yourselves, take your medications and in no distant time, you will get out of here.

“I want to appeal to the federal government and Lagos State government that, they should remunerate all those workers who have volunteered to work accordingly, so as to serve as an encouragement to others, adding that,

“If they are not here as first responders, many would have died.”
Another patient said, “I was admitted last Sunday. Initially, there were challenges, the following day, they brought bed, mask and some equipment.

“Apart from what my colleague said, the workers should be insured. Proper insurance will let people do what they have to do.

He narrated a scenario where the workers could not attend to him because he tested positive, saying “they went back and I slept off, I woke up around 3 a.m. So they deserve life insurance to encourage them to do their job.”

CORONAVIRUS: Nigeria Records Second Death

Published on March 30, 2020 by faveguyLeave a comment

The Nigerian Government has confirmed the second death from coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, announced this on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He said, “Till date, three persons have been discharged after successful treatment. But sadly, another fatality was recorded over the weekend in the person of a patient who had severe underlying illnesses.

“We have intensified contact tracing and our strategy remains to promptly detect cases, isolate them, and follow up with their contacts and also isolate and treat, in order to reduce the spread of the infection.”

“As of today, the 30th of March, 2020, we have recorded 111 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria of which 68 are in Lagos, 21 in the FCT, seven in Oyo, three in Ogun, two in Bauchi, two in Edo, two in Osun, two in Enugu, and one each in Benue, Ekiti, Kaduna and Rivers States,” Ehanire added.

He stressed that Nigeria has 111 confirmed cases of COVID-19, saying a majority of them were persons who came in from overseas.

According to the health minister, the highest number of confirmed cases are in Lagos and Abuja because they serve as the major gateways to the country.

He also informed the gathering that all retired but able-bodied staff of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health were being recalled.

Ehanire warned Nigerians to protect the elderly among them, as well as those having underlying health issues as they were the most vulnerable.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, informed the audience that the briefing would be a daily event.

He explained that the purpose was to give an update and minimise the incidence of fake news in the country.
Mustapha stressed that the briefing would be the only approved briefing of the task force, although appearances on TV by relevant members would be allowed.

He announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has constituted a committee headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to care for the economic challenges that the situation may bring for the time being.

The SGF also clarified the controversy triggered by the restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He allayed the fear of Nigerians, saying workers in the financial institutions were not included in the stay-at-home order declared by the President in his Sunday broadcast to the nation.

COVID-19: 3 Men Jailed For Bleaching Quarantine In Hong Kong

Published on March 30, 2020 by faveguyLeave a comment

Three men were sentenced to imprisonment on Monday for violating Hong Kong’s compulsory quarantine measures.

A 31-year-old man was given a three-month custodial sentence for giving regulatory officials a false residential address.

Meanwhile a 37-year-old and a 41-year-old violated the restrictions by leaving their places of residence.
Both were intercepted at border-control points between Hong Kong and mainland China.

The men received respectively 10 days and six weeks’ imprisonment.

The government said in a statement that they welcomed the judgment and that the sentences sent a clear message to the community that breaching quarantine orders is a criminal offense.

Also, the government would not tolerate the breach of quarantine.
Hong Kong continues to see an escalation in cases.

The government issued a new measure to make 14-day quarantine compulsory for anyone entering the city from overseas or from mainland China.

There are 641 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong, a number that has tripled over a two-week period as overseas residents rushed to return from Europe, as well from Hubei province.

Hubei province is where the outbreak originated and where the number of infections has run into the thousands.
Those in quarantine must wear a QR-coded trackable wristband and remain in their places of residence.

But there are currently more than 32,000 people undergoing such measures and criticisms include questions about the effectiveness of the bands and about the government’s ability to keep track of such numbers.

In response to the second wave of infections in Hong Kong the government has limited gatherings to a maximum of four people and shut down public areas, such as sports grounds.