COVID-19
Lagos, Abuja, Kano airports ready for operations
Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, says that Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, are ready for recommencement of domestic flights. The minister said during the daily Presidential Task Force briefing on Monday in Abuja that Lagos, Abuja and Kano airports would recommence domestic flights on Wednesday. He urged all passengers and crews to obey the COVID-19 protocols to ensure safety of the airports and airplanes against the virus. Sirika said that five countries in Africa and over one hundred countries across the globe have already started domestic air service. On the preparation on the airplanes, the minister stated that the last row of the aircraf...
Ondo doctors withdraw services from infectious disease centre
The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) in Ondo State has directed its members to withdraw their services from the state’s Infectious Disease Centre with immediate effect. The association said the directive became imperative due to government’s failure to meet their demands. The union had last month withdrawn the services of its members working in the employ of the state government following government failure to accede to their demands. The NAGGMDP Secretary in the state, Dr Olasakinju TJ, said government’s intervention has so far lacked a ‘human face’. ‘We had through the congress directed that our members who are the COVID-19 specialists in the Infectious Disease Hospital, Akure, to continue to work till Thursday morning, 2nd July 2020 i...
US Sunbelt mayors push back against Trump’s virus optimism
US Sunbelt mayors warned Sunday that their cities are at risk of being overwhelmed by a surge of coronavirus cases as they pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s attempt to minimize the gravity of the spreading virus. COVID-19 has been raging for weeks across southern and western states. Florida has registered 10,000 new cases on some days. Arizona has seen record hospitalizations. And intensive care units in Houston, Texas are operating near maximum capacity. With President Trump continuing to play down the disease eschewing a mask, continuing to address large gatherings, saying a vaccine is only months away and asserting that “99 percent” of cases are not serious the exasperation of local officials has begun to boil over, with some floating the idea of new stay-at-home orders. “...
Nigerian government warns civil servants against flouting coronavirus guidelines
The Federal Government has warned federal civil servants against flouting the workplace guidelines put in place to flatten the curve of coronavirus pandemic in the country. The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, in a circular she personally signed and titled “Need for Strict Compliance with the Directives and Advice on the COVID-19 Pandemic Preventive Measures”, reminded the workers of two previous circulars in March and April 2020, issued on the measures to guide against further spread of the current COVID-19, which included limiting the number of visitors to offices. “The attention of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation has been drawn to the fact that these guidelines are not being complied with. Specifically, it has been noticed that, the flow of ...
Is the Global Pandemic an Opportunity to Reimagine Urban Development in Africa?
Sourced from SA Commercial Prop News. The need for social distancing and better sanitation could leapfrog development of African cities into a more sustainable future. This is according to Duncan Bonnett, Director of Market Access & Research at Africa House, and research partner of exhibition organiser Messe Muenchen South Africa. He says that, while Africa’s architects and planners have long been pushing for greener, smarter better designed urban spaces, the COVID-19 pandemic may help fast-track moves to better living spaces. New opportunities arise from disruptions Speaking ahead of the bauma CONEXPO Africa trade show, Bonnett says “The pandemic has certainly caused delays and disruptions across construction and infrastructure development, but there are some silver linings for the se...
First “Dedicated Socially Distanced Music Venue”in the UK to Open in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England is set to be the home of the country’s first dedicated socially distanced music venue. Up to 2,500 people will be able to experience live music once again when it opens this summer. Named Virgin Money Unity Arena, the new venue takes the foundation of a drive-in theater and transforms it into a unique live music experience. As shown in the picture below, attendees will have their own private space to dance and take in the show as they please without being confined to a car. Owners state that each car will be parked a safe distance apart and from there, fans will be guided to their own properly-spaced section of the venue. The process is further detailed on the official Virgin Money Unity Arena website and in a recent tweet. Cars will...
Study: Horror Fans Have Shown “Greater Resilience During the Pandemic”
The best way to prepare for a pandemic is to go through a different pandemic, and it doesn’t hurt to participate in some alien invasions or the odd zombie apocalypse. According to a new study, horror fans and “morbidly curious” people have shown “greater resilience during the pandemic.” The research into psychological coping was conducted by scientists at the University of Chicago, Penn State, and Denmark’s Aarhus University. It hasn’t yet been peer reviewed, but a preprint has been giving the internet goosebumps. By looking at 310 individuals, researchers came to the conclusion that “exposure to frightening fictions allow audiences to practice effective coping strategies that can be beneficial in real-world situations.” They wrote, “We found that fans of horror films exhibited greater res...
Former LASIMRA chief dies of coronavirus in Lagos
Immediate past General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, LASIMRA, Chief Jide Odekunle, during the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos State is dead. He was said to have died at age 53 of COVID-19 complications. A top government official who confirmed this to Vanguard said late Odekunle died of COVID-19 complications at the Onikan isolation centre. The source also stated that his death came as a rude shock to his family and friends in the state. Odekunle was a 1989 computer science graduate of the University of Ibadan. He had a distinguished career in sales and marketing and held senior management positions in several multinationals including Schlumberger Omnes, GS Telecom, Suburban Telecom, Nera Microwave and Ceragon Networks. He ...
FCE Osiele shuts down after a health worker dies of coronavirus
The management of the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta has shut down the institution for two weeks after a medical personnel at the school’s health centre died as a result of complications arising from coronavirus. According to a report, two other workers of the institution’s Medical Centre have also tested positive for the virus. While announcing the closure of the school in a statement on Friday, July 3, 2020, the institution’s Registrar, Adedayo Adebayo, said, a report carried out “attributed the cause of death of one of the medical personnel that transited to immortality lately to complications that arose from COVID-19. “Regrettably, the two other staff of the medical centre similarly tested positive to the viral infection and have been placed on isolation and undergoing ...
BBNaija new housemates in isolation ahead of show’s premier
Organisers of the reality show, Big Brother Naija, say all new members of the show are currently in isolation ahead of the July 19, 2020 premier of Season 5. MultiChoice, which broadcasts the show, said in a virtual press briefing that organisers are collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to guarantee the highest form of precaution and safety control for the housemates and the production crew. “They will be monitored whilst in quarantine until they are deemed fit health-wise. Anyone that shows signs of ill health, will as expected not be a part of the show.” The broadcaster said the Big Brother House has been disinfected and won’t be available to anyone until the housemates arrive. Channel Director, Africa Magic, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, also emphasized that even before...
Liverpool reiterate need for safe celebrations ahead of Villa clash
Liverpool have again urged their supporters to avoid mass gatherings in the city and to celebrate their Premier League triumph safely at home in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, chief executive Peter Moore said on Friday. Liverpool’s 30-year wait for their 19th English top-flight crown ended last week when Manchester City lost at Chelsea and thousands of fans turned up at their Anfield stadium to celebrate. Local media reported that fans launched fireworks at the Royal Liver Building, with a fire breaking out on the balcony of the landmark owned by Farhad Moshiri, the majority shareholder of the side’s local rivals Everton. Liverpool, Merseyside police and the City Council issued a statement condemning the “wholly unacceptable” behaviour, while manager Juergen Klopp requeste...
FIFA U-20/U-17: CAF set to announce African qualifiers new dates
Getty Images The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to announce a revised date for the remaining qualifying matches of the 2021 FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cup slated for January to March of next year. Prompt News exclusively gathered that CAF will within a week write Member Associations (MAs) including Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the new dates for the African qualifiers which came to a halt at the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. “I want to assure you that Member Associations will next week or before then receive directives from CAF headquarters on the new dates for the African qualifier matches. I can confirm that CAF Competitions Department, Youth Department and Organising Committee are currently working out the modalities for the restart ...
