COVID-19
The Future of Work – Becoming a Digital Workforce
Sourced from HCAMag.com The future of work has always been a popular topic for discussion, especially among HR and payroll practitioners. However, the current COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown many countries have experienced are fast-tracking discussions towards more practical interventions to prepare the workforce for what will be the new normal. “Even though many aspects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the digitalisation of workforces have been theoretical, the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic has forced management to rethink their approaches to employees and how they use technology to not only improve productivity but reinvent traditional processes,” says Ian McAlister, GM at CRS Technologies. More than just technology Consider artificial intelligence (AI)...
Kansas City Festival Dancefestopia, Featuring GRiZ, Zeds Dead, REZZ, and More, Will Go On as Planned
Kansas City dance music festival Dancefestopia has announced the news that state and county officials have given them the green light to move forward with their 2020 edition. As of yesterday, May 28th, 2020, officials approved Dancefestopia provided that promoters work closely with health and government officials to ensure the safety of the festival’s patrons amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Elated Dancefestopia organizers took to Facebook to share the exciting news. The 2020 edition of Dancefestopia features a mammoth lineup of heavy-hitters from the bass music sphere. Scheduled to appear on this year’s fest are headliners GRiZ, Zeds Dead, and REZZ, along with Borgore, 12th Planet, Subtronics, Wuki, G Jones, and TroyBoi, among many others. Other notable acts not...
WHO: Africa’s coronavirus cases hit 123,000
Flickr The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday reported that COVID-19 cases in Africa as at May 26 had risen to over 123, 000. The WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, gave the update on its official twitter handle @WHOAFRO. “There are over 123,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – with more than 50,000 recoveries and 3,600 deaths,’’ it said. The figures show that South Africa, Algeria and Nigeria have the highest reported cases in the continent. According to the report, South Africa has 25,937 cases and 552 deaths, followed by Algeria with 8,857 cases and 623 deaths, while Nigeria has 8,733 confirmed cases and 254 deaths. It said that Ghana had 7,303 reported cases and 34 deaths, while Cameroon recorded 5, 436 confirmed cases and 177 deaths. The ...
Katsina to build 722-bed capacity isolation centres
The Katsina State government has said it is building isolation centres, with a combined 722-bed capacity, across the state for effective treatment of COVID-19 patients. Governor Aminu Masari announced this when he received three ambulances, donated by BUA Foundation to the state, on Thursday in Katsina. “On our own, we are building isolation centres at various locations across the state, with a combined 722-bed capacity, for treatment of COVID-19 patients. “We have finished one of the centres and admission has started there. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of two others are in progress,’’ he said. The governor, therefore, solicited for assistance in the area of hospital beds and beddings for the isolation centres from public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations. “I am making ...
Official: ICPC investigating cases of coronavirus fraud
File Photo The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it is investigating alleged cases of corruption in the management of COVID-19 funds and palliatives. The commission’s Director of Operations, Mr Akeem Lawal, disclosed this during a virtual meeting of stakeholders on the topic, “COVID-19 Funds Management and Monitoring”, on Thursday. In a presentation titled, “ICPC Monitoring Obligation and Strategy Re: COVID-19 Emergency”, Lawal said the cases include alleged fraud by some participating public institution in the release and distribution of grains from strategic food reserve. Others, according to him, include alleged infractions in the procurement of COVID-19 palliatives and logistics and community enlightenment activities. The ICPC official, who...
Japan Amusement Parks Asking Guests Not to Scream on Roller Coasters Due to COVID-19
Remember places and the outside? As the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic winds down, quarantine measures are slowly being lifted throughout the world, and people are eager to do things like go to concerts and amusement parks — masks on, of course, because safety still comes first. In Japan, amusement park officials have released guidelines for those looking to get their adrenaline fix on, though they might be a lot tougher to follow than one would expect: Employees are urging visitors to not scream on the country’s famed roller coasters. Per recommendations for mitigating the spread of COVID-19, theme park operators are asking guests to “refrain from vocalizing loudly” on roller coasters and other assorted thrill rides, reports the Japan Times. Other park safety measures include six ...
Nigeria releases new guidelines for international flights operations
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority , NCAA, Thursday, released new guidelines for international flights operations during the current Covid-19 pandemic for Nigerian based crew. Under the new rules, Nigerian crew operating international flights must now wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and observe Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures for the duration of the flight. This is just as the flight crew will now undergo mandatory testing for Covid-19 every 14 days at cost to the Air Operator upon return to Nigeria , instead of the current quarantine in an isolated place they are currently subjected to. Also, any of the crew members who test positive for Covid-19 will be taken to a treatment centre for further management. The new release with reference NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/120 , dated...
NDDC HQ shut over ‘coronavirus outbreak’
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has ordered the immediate shutdown of the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission in Port Harcourt following the sudden death of the Commission’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Etang. Chief Etang, whose death occurred in the early hours of Thursday at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt, was suspected to have died from complications arising from coronavirus disease. To this ends, Senator Akpabio has directed all staff of the Commission currently exhibiting symptoms not to panic but to report to the nearest NCDC centre in Port Harcourt for evaluation. The ministry in a statement by its Director, Press & PR, Mrs Deworitshe Patricia said the “Minister of N...
PTF decries continued refusal by hospitals to treat patients for fear of coronavirus
The Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 (PTF) has decried the continued refusal by medical institutions including federal tertiary institutions to receive and treat patients for fear COVID-19. PTF lamented that this development has resulted in several unfortunate and avoidable fatalities. Meanwhile, the PTF will conclude its assessment on the impact of the measures put in place and further recommendations would be submitted to the President for a decision within the next seventy hours. Chairman of PTF and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who disclosed this at the daily Press Briefing in Abuja, noted that Nigeria is having more deaths from non-attendance to other diseases than even COVID 19 adding that the reason for the greater emphasis on COVID 19 is ...
Oyo confirms two coronavirus cases
The COVID-19 Task Force in Oyo State has announced two positive cases in the state. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 252. Governor Seyi Makinde, who heads the state COVID-19 task force gave the indication via his verified Twitter handle, on Thursday. According to him, one of the suspected cases is from iSON Xperiences in Ibadan South West Local Government Council Area of the state. The governor wrote, “The COVID-19 confirmation tests for two suspected cases came back positive. One case is from iSON Xperiences and the other case is from Ido Local Government Area. So, the total number of confirmed cases in Oyo State is 252. “Please call the Emergency Operations Centre if you have any COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, fever, tiredness, body ache, and shortness of...
Charlie Benante on New Anthrax Album: “The First Thing I Wanna See Come Out Is a Vaccine”
Anthrax have a number of songs written for their next album, but drummer Charlie Benante wants to see a COVID-19 vaccine arrive before the legendary thrash-metal act releases a new LP. During an interview with Lou Brutus for HardDrive Radio, Benante offered an update on the follow-up to 2016’s For All Kings. “There is new music, there actually is,” said the drummer. “There’s about six, seven songs — and it’s really good.” When asked whether fans would get to hear some new music in the near future, Benante responded, “The first thing I wanna see come out is a [COVID-19] vaccine. Then we’re gonna put a record out.” Benante also revealed that Anthrax will not play any shows in 2020, and that their first gig back will be January 11th, 2021, at the rescheduled Knotfest Japan. “Other than that, ...
Understanding African Markets During COVID-19
Sourced from iStock. We are living in unprecedented times. COVID-19 has swept throughout the world, and governments globally have taken drastic measures to stop the spread in an attempt to save lives. In February 2020, as African countries watched Asia and Europe begin the implementation of lockdown, a study by Survey54, an automated mobile-led data collection platform, found that approximately 80% of Africans interviewed felt almost immune to the virus as they were yet to hear of any confirmed cases on the continent. This did not last long and by Mid-March, lockdown procedures were initiated across Africa. Despite the swift response, lockdown came with many challenges that drastically affected a continent which heavily depends on the informal sector. With roughly 90% of Africans now conce...
