COVID-19
COVID-19 Boosts Demand for Human-Centered Digital Design
Sourced from TTEC.com If there is one thing that COVID-19 has highlighted; it is the importance of people in the economic value chain. Sandton-based business management consultant Immersion Group says that one of the emerging trends they’re seeing is that more organisations are seeking human-centred design experts to enhance or improve digital customer experiences, breaking down barriers that may be hindering their ability to satisfy their customers. Organisations are now facing urgent decisions as they pivot to accommodate the many unexpected circumstances, and when these challenges risk affecting the bottom line; it’s crucial that organisations rapidly take stock of what is working and what isn’t working when prioritising digital experiences that put the customer first. From onboarding t...
Mexico City moves ahead with reopening with new protocols
Mexico City moves into the second day of its reopening as national officials warn the capital remains at “maximum risk” for COVID-19 after two months of restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. The government still requires everyone wear face masks but social distancing is now only recommended. Mexico City will reopen some sections of public parks for exercising Tuesday and people must wear masks and maintain a healthy distance apart. Zoos and playgrounds will stay closed and restaurants will remain closed. Construction, mining, public markets, and breweries were among the businesses that reopened Monday, with new protocols, including temperature checks for people arriving to work, a requirement that workers be clean shaven to avoid avoid any potential spread of the virus and workers ...
Nigerian government says churches, mosques can reopen
The Federal Government has announced relaxation of restriction on gatherings in places of worship imposed as part of the guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 led by Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation and chairman of the PTF, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the relaxation of the ban for four weeks on Monday. He however said the state governments and PTF will issue guideline to be followed for the reopening of the religious centres. “Relaxation of restriction on places of Worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments,” PTF said. “The PTF submitted its recommendations and the PRESIDENT has approved the following for implementation over t...
SA Government Could Bail Out National Airline to the Tune of $1.2-Billion
Sourced from Shutterstock. The administrator’s running South Africa’s embattled national airlines SAA propositioned the government to provide a R21-billion ($1.2-billion) bailout to help repay debt and resume operations after COVID-19 travel bans are lifted. This new plan includes about R17-billion that will go into repaying South African Airways creditors, according to Bloomberg. Afterwards, as much as R2-billion will be provided for working capital to get operations back and running. The draft plan “is for discussion purposes only and we await comment from the affected persons,” a spokeswoman for the administrators says, adding that the team has until 8 June to finalize a rescue proposal. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_91e.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_91e.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 ...
Mötley Crüe’s Comeback Tour with Def Leppard Postponed Until 2021 Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard have postponed their co-headlining summer U.S. tour until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The “Stadium Tour” was meant to be a massive comeback for Mötley Crüe, who had seemingly played their last show ever at the end of 2015. The Crüe signed a legal agreement to never tour again, but blew it up this past November upon announcing their return. The legendary hard-rock act cited the success of the Netflix biopic The Dirt as one of the main reasons for their reunion. The tour would have kicked off June 18th in Jacksonville, Florida, and run through a September 5th gig in Los Angeles. Poison, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, and Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts were set to provide support. According to an announcement, the dates are currently being res...
Professor worried by low number of coronavirus tests in Kano
The Director, Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Bayero University, Kano, Professor Isa Abubakar, has expressed worry over the decline in the number of samples being supplied to the state epidemiology team for COVID-19 tests. He spoke in Kano while receiving a GeneXPert modular machine, certified by the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) for COVID-19 and other diseases test, donated to the centre by philanthropists. The professor of infections and epidemiology insisted that the present decline in the number of active cases in the state is not a sign of relief as the number of COVID-19 tests being conducted in the state had equally dropped in the recent time. ‘Honestly, as an epidemiologist, I will only be happy if the number of tests we are conducting is larger than what we a...
Lagos records 21 more coronavirus recoveries, three fatalities
Lagos State has discharged 21 coronavirus patients. The state also recorded three more COVID-19 fatalities, according to the state Health Ministry on Saturday. It said in a statement that 15 of the discharged patients were males while six were females, noting that they tested negative twice for the virus upon treatment at the state isolation centres. “21 COVID-19 patients; 6 females and 15 males including a foreign national have been discharged from our Isolation facilities to reunite with the society. “The patients; 6 from Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba; 11 from Onikan; 3 from Agidingbi and 1 from Gbagada Isolation Centres were discharged having fully recovered and tested negative for COVID-19. “This brings to 875, the number of COVID-19 discharged cases in Lagos now. “3 addit...
Lagos to decamp pipeline explosion victims from relief camp
The Lagos State Government says it set to decamp the Abule-Egba pipeline explosion victims from the Igando Relief camp on June 30. Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Saturday. Oke-Osanyintolu said the state government had been supporting the rehabilitation of victims since January when the explosion occurred. He said that the government would be closing the camp effective June 30. According to him, LASEMA had worked with multiple agencies to ensure the safety and security of the 300 victims, including 40 infants and 30 children in many ways. He said the government has been feeding and accommodating victims and providing transport and educational support for school-...
Akwa Ibom discharges two coronavirus patients
The Akwa Ibom State Government has discharged two of the 29 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment from its medical facilities. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, who announced this on Saturday said those discharged have been certified negative by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, bringing to 16, the total of those treated and discharged of the viral infection since the first set of cases were recorded on April 1, 2020. Dr. Ukpong who is also the State Incident Manager explained that Governor Udom Emmanuel has expended so much in healthcare delivery and in emergency operations, and that accounts for the 100% recovery rate currently being experienced in the state. “Yesterday, you saw the magnificent 300 – bed facility that the Governor put up at Ituk Mbang, and I to...
Thirteen killed in Katsina bandit attacks
Thirteen people died on Friday when villagers fought back against armed cattle thieves in Katsina State where rustling has been on the increase. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Gambo Isah, confirmed this to Channels Television on Saturday. Also speaking to AFP, the PPRO noted that residents of four villages, organised in local militias, took on the livestock rustlers. “Thirteen people were killed and others injured in the process,” Isah said. “We keep telling people who are only armed with muskets and machetes to avoid confrontation with bandits who came with Kalashnikov rifles”. Northwestern Nigeria has been wracked by years of violence between rival communities over land, attacks by heavily-armed criminal gangs and reprisal killings by vigilante groups. Cattle rustling and k...
Amsterdam’s Sir Adam Hotel to Host Socially Distanced Music Festival Next Month
The Netherlands’ Sir Adam Hotel is set to host a socially distanced music festival for up to 120 attendees next month, on June 20th. The Dutch collective No Art is hosting their first hotel event, which will combine music, dining, and art into a 24-hour experience. In organizing the event, the group has stated they’ve met the public health guidelines set by The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The No Art Hotel experience will see four groups of attendees divided into segments of 30. Each group will independently experience different rooms of the hotel and will be scheduled for a dinner shift that includes a three-course meal. Guests will need to rent one of the two-person or four-person rooms available at the hotel for the price o...
Ekiti polytechnic produces hand washing and sanitiding machines
The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, has produced machines for hand washing and sanitiser as part of its contribution to governments’ efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Speaking at the inauguration of the hand-free and pedal-operated equipment on Saturday, the Rector, Dr. Dayo Oladebeye, commended the efforts of the Department of Mechanical Engineering on the initiative. Oladebeye also applauded the functionality of the machine saying that, “it is efficient to use and it is smooth, without any friction.” The rector said that aside the hand washing and sanitising machine products, the Polytechnic has other initiatives that will attract patronages from across the country. “The Polytechnic is already making contacts to present the pedal-operated handwashing and sanitising ...
