22 Schools Closed Down As Coronavirus Spreads After Reopening

The Government Has Ordered The Closure Of 22 Schools That Reopened Following The Spread Of Coronavirus.

France has closed down 22 schools due to a rise in coronavirus cases, the country’s Education Minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer confirmed on Friday.

Blanquer noted that over half of these cases were in the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion.

Speaking with Europe 1 radio, he, however, said he was pleased with how the return to school had progressed since children went back on Tuesday.

10 schools have closed in mainland France and 12 on La Reunion, where there has been a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Up to 130 classes have also been halted within schools and the minister said the authorities were checking around 250 incidents related to Coronavirus in schools every day.

These incidents are mainly linked to “factors outside school concerning people who could have been contaminated” over the summer, he said.

More than three COVID cases mean that the school is temporarily shut, he said.

France is currently experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, with 7,157 new cases reported on.

Oyo state government cancels curfew

The Oyo State government has announced the cancellation of the 10pm to 4am curfew earlier imposed on the state as part of measures to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

A statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde,Taiwo Adisa, on Thursday September 3, says the state government decided to abolish the curfew after series of reviews.

According to the statement, the decision to abolish the curfew was premised on the need to reduce the burden on business owners in the state who have been adversely affected by the curfew.

The government noted that statistics show that COVID-19 cases were declining in the state. It, however, warned residents of the state not to jettison the guidelines on the prevention of the virus, including washing of hands, social distancing and use of nose masks.

The statement adds that the governor has approved the conversion of the Aawe Isolation Centre to a Level 3 Primary Health Care Centre (PHC), directing that the facility should be decontaminated and handed over to the Hospital Management Board. Other isolation centres in the state aides the Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo, Ibadan, are to be converted to Level 3 PHCs.

Osun State set to reopens schools September 21

Osun State Government on Monday said September 21, 2020, has been set for the reopening of schools in the state.

The government disclosed this in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, at the end of this week’s State Executive Council meeting.

Egbemode also said stakeholders were expected to continue to put protocols in place towards the reopening of schools according to the guidelines set by the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to her, all schools in the state are set to resume in phases with effect from September 21 for an abridged third term of the 2019/2020 academic session.

The statement read in part: “Having conducted an assessment of schools within the State to ascertain the level of preparations for reopening, the government has scheduled schools to resume from the COVID-19 break on September 21st for an abridged third term of the 2019/2020 academic session, which is expected to end on October 30, 2020.

“To make up for lost grounds caused by the COVID-19 induced lockdown, a new academic session (2020/2021 session) is scheduled to commence on November 9, 2020.

“Because of the Yuletide, schools will be expected to take a brief recess from December 24, 2020, to resume on January 4, 2021, for the concluding part of the first term of the new session which is scheduled to end January 22, 2021.”

The Federal Government has warned that the apparently fewer COVID-19 positive cases of the past few days should not be a reason to rejoice or to lower the guard.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire

The Federal Government has warned that the apparently fewer COVID-19 positive cases of the past few days should not be a reason to rejoice or to lower the guard.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said this on Monday in Abuja at the 58th joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire said that, as of Monday, 17 August 2020, Nigeria has recorded 49,068 COVID-19 cases from 352,625 samples tested so far, with 36,497 persons successfully treated and discharged.

He equally said the nation sadly recorded 975 deaths and a case fatality rate still about two percent.

“We continue to strive to lower the case fatality rate to less than one percent, because we believe more lives can be saved from COVID-19, with the knowledge and system strengthening we have achieved over the past six months, even though I hasten to add that we do not yet know enough about COVID-19,” Ehanire said.

He said that what is sure of so far, is that a strong response to COVID-19 is a collaborative effort between citizenry and government for the benefit of all Nigerians and that while the government provides direction, guidance, and resources, citizens are to take ownership of the response.

“The apparently fewer COVID-19 positive cases of the past few days give us no reason to rejoice or to lower our guard.

“As we expand and include small towns and rural areas in our testing scope, a more accurate picture of our COVID-19 status will emerge.

“There is good reason to prepare for COVID-19 invasion of rural areas with testing, first aid, ambulance service, and commensurate Isolation and treatment centers,” the minister said.

He, however, expressed concern with the development in many overseas countries, of a sharp upsurge in COVID-19 cases, after they lifted or relaxed restrictions in air travel, commerce, and especially in social activities.

He said, “We know that some countries had to quickly restore lockdown or limit movement of citizens and even to postpone elections, in order to deal with the COVID-19 spike.

“In one country thousands of members of the congregation of a religious group had to be put in quarantine, having tested positive.

“These are significant lessons for us, as we prepare to reopen our economy and as we consider options for resuming flights and travel operations, or opening schools and land borders.

“Unless we utilize lessons learned to define and set measured precautionary steps to mitigate the risks, the danger of falling into the same negative balance in our own COVID-19 strategy and losing the gains made so far, is real.”

The minister said that the continuity of health routine services, capacity building of health workers, and their protection are paramount, to the Federal Ministry of Health and it is therefore a good opportunity to now urge the nation’s health workers to continue to focus on their assignments, from traveller screening, surveillance, sample collection, laboratory analysis to hospital and other forms of care.

He said, “It is critical to maintain strict Infection Prevention and Control measures at all times, help to educate the citizenry, support uptake of testing and reporting early for treatment when the test is positive.”

He said that the National Health System is responding well enough so far to the COVID-19 challenge and that collaboration with states and local governments remains a cornerstone of a successful strategy.

Commotion as Igbo woman storms Owerri Airport with her ‘premium Coronavirus prevention outfit’

An Igbo woman has caused serious commotion after she stormed the Owerri airport in Imo state with her ‘premium home-made coronavirus prevention outfit.’

The woman who boarded a plane was adorned in a face shield, a nose mask and a transparent nylon bag covering every inch of her body.

See the photo below…

Prevention they say is indeed better than cure. See some reactions to her outfit below…

“She no wan hear say dem shoot bird mama fly”

“The woman doesn’t need stories that touches the heart…It’s better to be safe than Sorry “

“If prevention is better than cure was a person”

“Iya Oni ya…ani ri ogun corona “

Omotola Sends a message to Sanwo-Olu from Isolation

Well-known Nigerian actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, on Saturday announced that she tested positive to Covid-19, and has been in Isolation, inline with NDDC directive of keeping others safe, to help in mitigating widespread of the pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

“Hello all, I know most of you have been wondering where I’ve been.
“Well, I contracted COVID. I have been ill, in Isolation and now getting better.” she said.

In her statement released on her verified Instagram page, the mother of four, who disclosed her recent health state, sent a message to the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu concerning the high rate of accident caused by reckless drivers.

While reacting to the whole incident that have caused many to go timeless, The superstar actress also known as Omosexy, disclosed that her heart is troubled, concerning how the Nigerian people are needlessly dying because of indiscipline of drivers and poor enforcement from agencies on Road

She called on the state government to do the needful in mounting the right measures on roads, in other to cease more report of deaths caused by road users.

“I have read the devastating news of how our youths are needlessly dying and getting crushed by trailers/containers! This is disheartening and has made my heart really troubled! This can happen to ANYONE and Enforcements can’t be taken lightly on this Gov @jidesanwoolu!!! Please do something,” she wrote.

FG retains curfew, extends eased lockdown by four weeks

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved the extension of the current phase of the national response to COVID-19 by another four weeks.

The implication is that all the guidelines put in place to curtail further spread of the virus under the second phase of the eased lockdown which started on June 1 will remain in force with slight modifications to address the economic, socio-political and health concerns as contained in the latest report by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The  Chairman of the task force, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at the briefing of the task force in Abuja on Thursday.

Within the next four weeks, Mustapha said state governments and authorities of the Federal Capital Territory would be mandated to enforce non-pharmaceutical measures and intensify measures such as contract tracing.

The SGF said, “After due consideration of the recommendations, Mr President approved the following: maintaining the current phase of the national response to COVID-19 for another four weeks in line with the modifications reflected in the report.

“He approved the partnering states and local governments to improve community sensitisation and engagement to the COVID-19 response; and mandating state authorities and the FCT to enforce non-pharmaceutical guidelines, primarily the use of face masks in public appearance and places.

“The President approved that state governments should be encouraged to collaborate with local government authorities to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grass-roots mobilisation and risk communication; and strengthening of collaboration with other mandate groups at federal/state levels to harmonise the country’s COVID-19 response, on the short, medium and long-term basis.”

He said the recommendations made to the President had been borne out of diligent evaluation of the situation in Nigeria as well as regional and global experiences.

Mustapha said the major changes being proposed were aimed at achieving the gradual re-opening of international air flights within established parameters; re-opening of rail transport within established parameters; granting permission to exit classes to resume ahead of examinations; allowing civil servants from Grade Level 12 to resume work; and opening recreational parks for supervised exercises.

Giving further details on the modified guidelines, the PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, said the 10pm to 4am curfew would remain in place nationwide as bars, gyms and cinemas would remain closed.

He said the guidelines issued for worship centres also remained the same.

“Visiting of hospitalised patients remain limited to immediate family. And we continue to recommend a maximum of 20 people including family members when it comes to attendance of funerals and other essential gatherings such as gatherings that cannot be changed,” he said.

He also said schools would remain closed except for graduating classes.

Aliyu said, “However, schools must comply with the six recommended steps and required measures issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and which is available online.

“For government and other corporate offices, we are now extending work hours to the normal official hours from Monday to Friday with the mandatory use of non-medical face masks.

“We encourage work at home policy for civil/public servants below the Grade Level 12.”

The national coordinator said the National Youth Service Corps had been advised “to start planning ahead of resumption in future phases but not within the current phase of the response”.

He noted that while banks had been advised to begin full operations, they were advised to reduce banking hall occupancy by customers to 50 per cent and occupancy of their offices to 75 per cent.

Aliyu said the Nigeria  Centre for Disease Control was also working towards deploying technology to make results of COVID-19 tests available online.

He said, “The NCDC will continue to work, I am sure, with NCC  (the Nigeria Communications Commission) and other parts of the IT industry. A very good example is working towards people accessing their results online. You have a COVID test done, you no longer have to rely on being phoned. It will allow  persons to just log on  and you will be given a number through your phone and you can access your own results.”

Aliyu again ruled out COVID-19 testing for students and schoolchildren as preconditions to resume classes.

Meanwhile, Mustapha said 8,000 Nigerians have so far been evacuated from abroad since the outbreak of coronavirus.

CACOVID distributes N23bn palliatives to 10m Nigerians

Nigeria’s private sector led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) yesterday announced the flag-off of a nationwide distribution of multi-billion naira food palliatives and other relief items to mitigate the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic on vulnerable Nigerians.

The food relief materials for which the private sector operators are spending about N23 billion, will cover 1.7 million families amounting to about 10m people across the 774 local governments in the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.

CACOVID Administrator and CEO of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Zouera Youssoufou told newsmen in Lagos that the food distribution was the next phase in the line of actions mapped out by the coalition to partner government in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and relief the vulnerable people of the burden posed by the outbreak of the disease.

Zouera said the Coalition has divided the nation into the six geo-political zones and the distribution was being flagged-off simultaneously in states such as Adamawa, Yobe, Ekiti Ogun, Delta, Edo, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Plateau, and Nasarawa.

The food palliatives are coming on the heels of  donations of medical equipment  to state governments to strengthen their response capacity and outright building of isolation facilities in about 38 centres at the cost of  N15bn.

CACOVID has also reinforced the testing capacity of the NCDC with the donation of over 300,000 test kits and PPEs.

Youssoufou said the Coalition’s primary focus was to aid the federal government in the fight against COVID-19. “Having done this successfully, we are turning our attention to offering a reprieve to households who have been adversely affected by the scourge of the virus.

“Through this Food Relief Programme, we will be reducing the risk of a second viral wave by encouraging people to remain indoors rather than expose themselves when seeking to provide food for themselves and their families.

Youssoufou further said: “The state governors and FCT minister, through the State Implementation Committee, will appoint a coordinator to diligently record and send an accurate and complete copy of the inventory tracker and goods delivery notes to the CACOVID Operations Center daily through the State CACOVID Representative to ensure timely and efficient delivery and proper transparency and accountability.

“CACOVID has laid out an elaborate plan and will be distributing the relief packages to the target beneficiaries across all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria with the state governors and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as champions of this initiative in each state,” she added.

Explaining the strategy being adopted for the distribution, Osayi Alile, CEO, AspireCoronation Trust (ACT) Foundation, who is also CACOVID Operations Implementation Committee member, explained that the Coalition was not political party biased but discharging its mandates to all Nigerians as laid out in the CACOVID objectives and goals.

“The state government, through the State Implementation Committee, will organise for representatives of all the state local government areas (LGAs) to collect the allocations for each LGA and oversee the redistribution to each ward and onto each eligible beneficiary at the grassroots subsequently based on an agreed distribution schedule”, she explained.

The Group Chief Corporate Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina stated that while the food distributions are going on across the nation the Coalition would continue to intensify its grassroots awareness campaign on the virus simultaneously.

COVID-19: SGF submits new recommendations to Buhari, says states not enforcing regulations

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, has identified non enforcement of regulations by States as one of the key challenges facing the efforts being made to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus disease in the country.

Mustapha disclosed on Wednesday while fielding questions from State House reporters after submitting new recommendations for the second extension of the second phase of gradual and eased lockdown to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He was accompanied to the State House by members of the PTF, including the Minister of Health; Dr Osagie Ehanire; the National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu; and the Director-General of the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.

‘Enforcement, the headache’

The SGF, while reacting to the question that sought to know whether the government would consider imposing sanctions on violators of laws to stop the spread of the disease, said: “It’s enforcement that has largely been lacking and my appeal is that the sub-nationals should ensure enforcement.

“As a matter of fact, when we listed some of our challenges, that was top on the list; lack of enforcement of even the regulations that have been put in place.

“As a result of signing the Quarantine Regulation, it’s a regulation, it’s a law.

“But you see, the issue of enforcement has been lacking and it’s not only in this area.

“And like I keep saying most times that COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses of our systems, all systems, not only the Nigerian system, even the American system, its inadequacies, despite its 300 years of democracy, have been exposed by COVID-19.

“If not, how can a President be arguing with the mayor of a city as to who has authority over what happens?

“It means there’s a big gap in that system.

“I believe if we can just work on the enforcement aspect of it, which is the responsibility of the sub-nationals, we will go a long way.”

New recommendations

The SGF, who refused to speak on the content of the report submitted to President Buhari, however, hinted that the recommendations focused on movement; labour and industries; communities’ activities.

He promised to speak on the matter on Thursday after receiving the President’s “approvals and non-approvals on the recommendations”.

Mustapha said the discharge of nearly 10,000 COVID-19 patients on Tuesday was not an indication that the country could relax as the reduction in the number of new cases was due to festivities.

“If you noticed, as we celebrated those discharges, there’s also been a decrease in the testings.

“In the last couple of days, we tested just barely 2,000 across the nation, but we have a testing capacity of much more thousands than 2,000.

“Another reason; everybody is still in the Sallah mood, even the essential workers, remember when I talked of fatigue, this is part of it.

“We’ve been doing this thing for the last three to four months, it gets to a point when you want to lay back and say we are already overcoming this, but I know that in the next couple of days, the testing will be rampart because people would have come out of the Sallah celebrations and come back to work.

“The sub-nationals and local governments will begin to go into the communities to search because this is the point at which you have to go into the local communities and begin to search.

“If you don’t do that, so much is happening as a result of the community transmission that has been cascaded into the local communities that if you wait for it to present itself, it will present itself in a very explosive manner and we can get into a panic mode.

“We don’t want to have that.

“That is why we are encouraging the state governments to go into the local communities to ensure that they search for those infected with this virus, test them, if they are positive, isolate them and provide care for them,” he added.

The SGF said the increasing numbers of new cases in spite of the trillion of dollars that had been thrown against COVID-19 showed that the ravaging effect of the disease in terms of infections and fatalities had not been tackled.

He expressed satisfaction that the country had established 60 laboratories in 31 states and the FCT, hoping that the entire states would be covered by the end of the month

COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed soon– VP

VP Yemi Osinbajo

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Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday asked that Nigeria, being the biggest country in Africa, be given priority in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine once it is ready.

His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, in a statement made available to journalists, quoted the Vice President as making the call during a virtual meeting which Federal Government officials had with representatives of Pfizer and Biotech, the international pharmaceutical firms promoting the BNT162 vaccine.

The statement was titled “COVID-19 vaccine: Health and safety of Nigerians is Buhari administration’s priority -VP Osinbajo.”

Akande quoted Osinbajo as saying, “It is important for us that we are prioritised –as the largest country in Africa – in the distribution of the best COVID-19 vaccine when it is eventually ready.”

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS BLOCK 7, THE SECRETARIAT, ALAUSA-IKEJACOVID-19 PROTOCOL FOR WORSHIP CENTRES (CHRISTIANITY) FOR THE FIRST EIGHT (8) WEEKS AFTER RE-OPENING

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS BLOCK 7, THE SECRETARIAT, ALAUSA-IKEJA

COVID-19 PROTOCOL FOR WORSHIP CENTRES (CHRISTIANITY) FOR THE FIRST EIGHT (8) WEEKS AFTER RE-OPENING 

1. Churches should allow 40% of worshippers ONLY at a time and the total worshippers must not exceed 500, notwithstanding the size of the place of worship for the first eight (8) weeks after re-opening.

2. SATURDAYS and SUNDAYS services should be kept between 1 and 2 hours.

3. Daily services should not exceed ONE (1) HOUR.

4. Worshippers should exit Church premises not later than one (1) hour after service/mass.

5. Churches should be decontaminated twice daily before the first service of the day and after the last service for the day, while wiping of surfaces should be carried out after each service.

6. No Vigil is allowed in places of worship for now in the first eight weeks of re-opening.

7. Record of attendance should show name, age, sex, address and telephone/email at every service for contact tracing in case of any discovery of infected/affected people.

8. Washing of hands with soap and water is mandatory before entry into place of worship.

9. Use of face mask is compulsory in Church precincts.

10. Use of hand sanitizers is compulsory.

11. Physical and social distancing horizontally and vertically of two (2) meters should be ensured.

12. No use of air conditioners and all windows must be opened.

13. Worshippers above 65 years should be given special considerations on the front pews and positioning during worship activities.

14. Children from aged 12 and below should stay back to worship from home for the first eight (8) weeks of re-opening.

15. All removable carpets and rugs should be put aside and others (irremovable) are to be washed and disinfected regularly.

16. Sounds from the loud speakers should not be above the acceptable decibel.

17. All safety measures must be put in place (First Aid boxes, fire extinguishers, muster points, emergency exit points etc).

18. Digital thermometer must be available to check temperatures of all congregation members and ensure that it is not above 37.50C before allowing entry into place of worship.

19. Social gatherings such as marriages, naming ceremonies, birthdays, burials etc must not be more than 20 people including the couples and the Officiating Ministers - who must take cognizance of social distancing precaution and other related COVID-19 protocols.

20. Other educational programmes would still be on hold until after the first eight (8) weeks of re-opening. 

21. Rules of physical distancing should be taken into cognizance in all religious interactions while COVID-19 lasts.

22. Every Clergy should ensure compliance with above conditions irrespective of other activities carried out in their places of worship.

23. Every place of Christian worship should adhere strictly to the above conditions irrespective of their denominational practices e.g. Communion, Weddings and Burials, Thanksgiving and other forms of Celebrations in the Church.

24. Provision of more microphones for all officiating Ministers/ Priests.

25. Above protocols shall be reviewed at the end of the first eight (8) weeks after the re-opening of places of worship.

Nigeria Universities to Reopen Soon- NUC

The Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (Academics), Dr Suleiman Ramon Yusuf, in Abuja on Tuesday said preparations were in top gear to reopen the nation’s universities after the forced closure due to COVID – 19 pandemic.

The commission said it was collating data on assessment of the level of preparedness by the various universities through their vice chancellors to determine if the universities were safe for resumption to both academic and non-academic activities.

Yusuf, stated these during a briefing to showcase the contributions of Nigerian universities to national response to COVID-19.

According to him, a total of 32 universities in the country were carrying out researches on solution to the dreaded coronavirus in the country.

Yusuf said that so far, a reasonable number of VCs had submitted their reports on the level of their readiness, saying once the process was concluded, it would make a statement either to direct universities to resume or otherwise.

He however regretted the expected resumption may be marred by strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities in public varsities.

Yusuf said, “However, efforts are on to look for a permanent solution to the incessant industrial action in universities.”

He noted that the pandemic had challenged knowledge system, which had proved inadequate and insufficiently robust enough to respond to the challenges.

He said, “Only few institutions have been able to utilize open and distance learning system to keep students engaged while the pandemic lasted and only few laboratories continued with research and development activities.

“Nonetheless, the few who engaged in research and innovation work have demonstrated the need for a well-funded and robustly organized national research and innovation system to catalyse the national response.”

ALL RETURNING SS3 BOARDING STUDENTS

OGUN MAKES COVID-19 TEST FREE FOR

The State has been very apprehensive about the issue of school opening even for exit students. Data from other countries, where schools have resumed show that community transmission in school environments is a major concern. Even countries with strongerhealth care facilities than ours are being very cautious.

In line with the Federal Ministry of Education recommendation and WASSCE timetable, we decided to open our schools on the 4thAugust 2020 for SS3 students only. We put in place guidelines that would ensure that our students resume in a safe environment.

In our pre-opening engagements with stakeholders, opening of boarding houses was discussed. Our State has one of the largest population of boarding students in the country, coming from all over the Country. After consultations with health professionals, we concluded that testing the children for COVID-19 before admittance will reduce the risk of community transmission. This is to reassure parents and even teachers of the safety of everybody concerned.

The State planned and provided testing, free of charge, for boarding students in our public schools and allowed for the management and parents of private schools to make their arrangements to get COVID tests. The two Ogun State run laboratories have a capacity for about 500 tests a day and conduct free tests for traced contacts or symptomatic patients. To meet the additional demand for the expected number of boarding students, the statement from the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology listed some private test centers which set up sampling points in some of our Health facilities.

These private laboratories have been accredited by NCDC and Lagos State Government for walk-in tests and charge N50,400 per test but I understand that the Ministries of Health and Education negotiated this to N25,000 for boarding students in private schools that may wish to use them. There is no financial benefit to the State Government.

After reviewing these developments, I have today immediately directed that the Government Laboratories carry out test for all returning SS3 boarding students at no cost. I have also directed that all those who have paid for tests be refunded. 

The health of our children remains our utmost priority, however in view of the total number of boarding students to be tested (5,340private and 500 public), and bearing in mind the limitation of our installed testing capacity of 500 tests per day, it may not be feasible for all boarding students to get tested and get their results prior to resumption or even exams which commence on 17th August 2020. 

Consequently the State Government has therefore stepped down the COVID-19 test as a mandatory requirement for returning students in our exit classes. We therefore enjoin Private School owners toexercise their duty of care to their pupils. The admittance of students into boarding house in private secondary schools will be at the discretion of the management and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of such private schools. 

Ogun State Government recommends that students who do not have to stay in the boarding house should attend school from home, especially those with underlying health conditions. 

I have also directed the provision of face masks to all students inboth private and public schools.

The inconvenience and confusion experienced yesterday is highly regrettable and my sincere apologies to the parents and students so affected.

The quality and standard of education and well being of our children are issues that are very dear to my heart.

I appreciate the cooperation, support, resilience and understanding of all the people of Ogun State towards flattening the curve of COVID-19 in Ogun State. It is my prayer that this phase will end soonest.

“Igbega Ipinle Ogun, ajose gbogbo wa ni o.”

Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, 

Governor of Ogun State, Nigeria. 

25,000 COVID 19 Test: Voice of Ogun Women joins Parents to say: NO.

The Voice of Ogun Women,  VOW, a Non Governmental Organisation of women of Ogun state origin either by birth or marriage is concerned over the current reported request by the Ogun State Government that Secondary School boarding students are to  pay for Covid tests before resumption.

The State Government in anticipation for the resumption of academic activities for students in exit classes nationwide starting from Monday, August 3,  had  in  a statement released on  August 1, by Mrs.Ronke Soyombo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary and Secondary, mandated all students in boarding houses to undergo Malaria and COVID-19 tests as condition for admission into their various boarding houses.

Much as we appreciate the untiring efforts of the State Government to stem the spread of the virus  and restore a near normal situation in the State, VOW, is of the the view that there should be parity in Government Policies as they affect children in both Private and Public Schools in the State.

Any policy that has the semblance of discrimination must not be promoted by the government. 

We may ask why  parents whose source of income had been seriously affected in the last 6 months should be further burdened by government; Whereas some category of elite citizens who could afford to pay for the test and  treatment got tested and treated for free.?   Why should  the SS3 boarders, who are bonafide children  of the state,who are entitled to healthcare, now  pay for COVID 19 tests... This to us is an example of an  anti people policy by the present administration of Ogun State..

If we may further ask,...What would be Government's way of palliative to Children as beneficiaries of the various in flow of huge resources both financial and material.

Little wonder why the general populace is taking the matter of the pandemic with levity and unseriousness. .

The Ogun State Women as Mothers are in support of parents with children in SS3 on their stand not to pay 25k for Covid test ..We therefore join the parents to plead with Governor Dapo Abiodun to override this directive and allow ALL our children in the state be tested FREE OF CHARGE  as part of Government Public Health and Social Welfare  Responsibility Programme for Children of Ogun State ..This  will sum up  to government's effort in building  a heathy and vibrant future for our children.

The Voice of Ogun women argued that owners of schools as Small Scale Businesses should even be considered for tax holiday saying after all the schools pay Annual Renewal Fees to the State Government.

The Voice of Ogun  Women concluded by urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to quash this unpopular and ill thought out directive carried out by the Education Adviser and the Health Commissioner.             

 Signed: Doyin Ogunbiyi Convener

“It Is Unacceptable” Obasanjo Condemns N25,000 COVID-19 Test Fee On Parents

The former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has vehemently condemned the N25,000 Covid19 test levy imposed on private schools parents by the Ogun state government as part of criteria for safe reopening of schools in the state. 

The erstwhile President made his position known in a letter made available to journalists. 

He explained that such decision by the state Government is insensitive and inconsiderate, specially at this time where COVID-19 has affected so many homes financially and otherwise. 

He called on Governor Abiodun to revisit his decision maintaining that it is unacceptable.

Ahead resumption today, FG disinfects 19,000 unity schools

Senior Secondary 3 students trekking to School after the federal government lifted the COVID-19 lockdown for them to resume classes in preparation for the forthcoming exam by the West African Examinations Councils at Ijaye Ogba road in Agege, Lagos yesterday

The Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education has commenced decontamination of 19,000 unity schools in preparation for their resumption.

The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar, while briefing newsmen in Kaduna, said the collaborating ministries had put in place a sustainable system which would protect the health of learners and their caregivers’ at all educational levels.

WASSCE: Lagos Secondary schools resume amidst COVID-19

School resumption: FG decontaminates 19,000 exam centers

While re-assuring parents of the safety and well-being of their wards, he urged them to ensure they were properly kitted with face masks during the examination.

“Starting with the Federal Government Colleges (Unity schools) and then some of the schools that will host the Senior School Certificate Examination, numbering about 19, 000, whereas the unity schools will be subjected to thorough decontamination/disinfection in the coming days immediately after the Eid-el-Kabir break.

Our personnel would be mounting surveillance in some of the examination centers.

“This will include decontaminating examination halls at the end of every examination session. As with the decontamination and disinfection previously embarked upon by the ministry, this time around, it will entail the use of friendly and globally accepted formulations-friendly to the environment and people,” he said.

Also, the federal government yesterday confirmed that all the 104 Unity schools across the country were ready for reopening for exit classes today (Tuesday) in compliance with its earlier directive to enable final year students prepare for their examination.

As part of measures to this effect, various states yesterday rolled out guidelines aimed at mitigating the spread of the CVID-19 pandemic.

While all returning students are to undergo temperature checks among other protocols before being admitted into their schools, temperature tests are also expected to be carried out on students, it was gathered.

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, after a meeting with Commissioners of Education of the 36 states of the Federation via the Zoom platform yesterday, lauded Principals of Unity Colleges for the comprehensive preparation put in place for resumption.

The Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Ben Bem Goong, in a statement said during the meeting, the Commissioners reported varying degrees of preparation and readiness for reopening between the 4th and 10th of August, 2020 for virtually all schools within their jurisdictions.

He noted that from Monday (yesterday), the Minister of State for Education, Permanent Secretary and Directors had embarked on an assessment tour of all Unity Colleges to ascertain and confirm the reports they received from the Principals of Unity Colleges.

FCT

Schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set to resume classes for exit students but Daily Trust findings have revealed that most of the schools are yet to put in place safety measures.

Our reporter, who visited some primary and secondary schools in the territory, observed that none of the schools have been decontaminated.

In LEA Science Primary School Abaji, there was no indication that fumigation was carried out while Junior Secondary School, Kekeshi, in the area was also not fumigated.

Also in Kwali Central Primary School and Government Secondary School at Oversea Quarters, there was no sign of decontamination of the schools.

The chairman of the FCT wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Stephen Knabayi, said no school has been fumigated, saying ” as I am talking to you right now, we are still holding meeting with regards to the issue of the fumigation of schools and other NCDC guidelines for schools resumption.

But according to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the FCTA’s Education Secretariat at 7:00pm yesterday, the FCTA said it carried out the fumigation of secondary schools, as well as made available facemasks, hand sanitizers and infrared thermometers for use in the schools.

The statement said the Chairman, FCT Secondary Education Board, Hon. Yahaya Musa Muhammad, briefed newsmen about the development  yesterday.

Rivers

In Rivers State, COVID-19 hygiene kits purchased by the state government were distributed to 257 public schools last weekend in line with the guidelines for the resumption of schools.

Governor Nyesom Wike said the sanitary and hygiene kits which include hand sanitizers, gloves, face masks, detergents, running water buckets, and disinfectants were part of government’s effort to ensure that students were not infected with the coronavirus as they return to school for their exit examinations.

The governor urged the Principals to ensure the proper utilization of the kits by sanitizing their school environment and also follow the necessary COVID-19 protocols.

Lagos

Our reporter who monitored resumption in some schools in Lagos State observed that both public and private schools were open to final year students.

At Agidingbi Senior Grammar School along Lateef Jakande road, our reporter observed a banner welcoming the students back from COVID-19 lockdown and also asking those with fever, cough or shortness of breath not to enter the school premises.

From the gate, students, teachers and visitors’ temperature were checked by the security with an infrared thermometer while they were asked to use hand sanitizers before going into the school premises.

A staff of the school who spoke on ground of anonymity told our reporter that there was over 60percent turn out of students to school on the first day of resumption, saying about 70 out of the 120 SS3 students were present in school.

An SS3 students at the Agidingbi senior grammar school, Eze Blessing expressed happiness over school resumption, saying, it would help her prepare better for her examination. “At the moment, I am about 70per cent prepared for the WASSCE but with the resumption, I will do better because there is power in collaboration and learning under a tutor amidst colleagues,” she said.

 Kwara

The Kwara State government on Monday gave out 65,000 face masks for distribution across schools ahead of Wednesday’s resumption of students preparing for the secondary school certificate examinations.

A statement by the spokesperson for the state technical committee on COVID-19, Rafiu Ajakaye said the face masks are to be distributed to senior secondary class three (exit) students as part the government’s efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmission in Kwara State.

Presenting the face masks to the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Bisola Ahmed for onward distribution to SS3 students, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, Kayode Alabi said, “This is the first phase as we are also giving out sanitizers while the ministry of education, working with the committee and stakeholders in the sector, has been mandated to ensure that safety rules are adhered to.”

Plateau

Our correspondent who went round some public and private schools alike observed that there were no sign of hand washing materials at the entrances of schools just as the security men had no thermometers to check people’s temperature.

It was gathered that the schools had been asked to provide all the necessary equipment for themselves, as the authorities vowed to go round the schools to ensure compliance with the measures.

A teacher with Government Secondary School in Tudun Wada, Jos, who preferred anonymity said they were told that COVID-19 materials would not be immediately available due to lack of funds.

Asthma does not seem to increase the severity of COVID-19, research team finds

Asthma does not appear to increase the risk for a person contracting COVID-19 or influence its severity, according to a team of Rutgers researchers.

“Older age and conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and obesity are reported risk factors for the development and progression of COVID-19,” said Reynold A. Panettieri Jr., a pulmonary critical care physician and director of the Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science and co-author of a paper published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. “However, people with asthma — even those with diminished lung function who are being treated to manage asthmatic inflammation — seem to be no worse affected by SARS-CoV-2 than a non-asthmatic person. There is limited data as to why this is the case — if it is physiological or a result of the treatment to manage the inflammation.”

Panettieri discusses what we know about asthma and inflammation and the important questions that still need to be answered.

How might awareness of SARS-CoV-2 affect the health of people with asthma?

Since the news has focused our attention on the effects of COVID-19 on people in vulnerable populations, those with asthma may become hyper-vigilant about personal hygiene and social distancing. Social distancing could improve asthma control since people who are self-quarantined are also not as exposed to seasonal triggers that include allergens or respiratory viruses. There is also evidence that people are being more attentive to taking their asthma medication during the pandemic, which can contribute to overall health.

What effect might have inhaled steroids have on COVID-19 outcomes?

Inhaled corticosteroids, which are commonly used to protect against asthma attacks, also may reduce the virus’ ability to establish an infection. However, studies have shown that steroids may decrease the body’s immune response and worsen the inflammatory response. Steroids also have been shown to delay the clearing of the SARS and MERS virus — similar to SARS-CoV-2 — from the respiratory tract and thus may worsen COVID-19 outcomes. Future studies should address whether inhaled steroids in patients with asthma or allergies increase or decrease the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and whether these effects are different depending on the steroid type.

In what way does age play a role in how asthma patients react to exposure to the virus?

A person’s susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19 infection increases with age. However, since asthma sufferers tend to be younger than those with reported high-risk conditions, age-adjusted studies could help us better understand if age is a factor in explaining why asthma patients may not be at greater risk for infection.

Children and young adults with asthma suffer mainly from allergic inflammation, while older adults who experience the same type of airway inflammation can also suffer from eosinophilic asthma — a more severe form. In these cases, people experience abnormally high levels of a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection, which can cause inflammation in the airways, sinuses, nasal passages and lower respiratory tract, potentially making them more at risk for a serious case of COVID-19.

In addition, an enzyme attached to the cell membranes in the lungs, arteries, heart, kidney and intestines that have been shown to be an entry point for SARS-CoV-2 into cells is increased in response to the virus. This enzyme is also thought to be beneficial in clearing other respiratory viruses, especially in children. How this enzyme affects the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect people with asthma is still unclear.

How might conditions in addition to asthma affect a person’s risk of infection?

Asthma tends to be associated with far fewer other conditions than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cardiovascular disease. If SARS-CoV-2 is a disease that causes dysfunction in the cells that line blood vessels throughout the body, then diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other diseases associated with this condition may make people more susceptible to the virus than those who are asthmatic. However, older people with asthma who also have high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease may have similar instances of COVID-19 as non-asthmatics with those conditions

Ignore Lagos Government’s Directive, Don’t Reopen' – Pastor Tunde Bakare Warns Churches

Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC) has advised churches to ignore the Lagos State Government’s directive to reopen on Sunday, August 9.

Bakare, during an online sermon on Sunday, queried the decision to reopen the worship centres when the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said that the COVID-19 pandemic would peak in Nigeria in August.

The cleric advised worshippers not to allow any religious leader or government official to lead them like sheep to the slaughter house.

He said, “I have to appeal to you once again, please keep safe and do your best to stay alive. Do not let anyone, whether religious leader or governmental leader, to drive you like a sheep to the slaughter.

“If they (the government and the disease control authorities) said that the month of August is going to be the peak of the infection, why should they ask people to rush in (re-open the churches) again?

“Please keep safe and do your best to keep alive by keeping all the necessary rules. We know that by the grace of God this pandemic like the others before it has an expiry date. It shall not see our end. We shall see its end in the mighty name of Jesus.”

Bakare said that the state government might have caved in to pressure from religious leaders to lift the ban it earlier placed on religious gatherings.

The pastor said that even though the government had the right to shut the churches, it does not have the right to force christians to re-open the worship centres.

Meanwhile, the General overseer of living faith ministries, Bishop David Oyedepo had threatened that ‘fire will fall’ if churches are shut down again in Nigeria.

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate price N50,000 in Nigeria: See pharmacy in Nigeria price tag

A pharmacy in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, has set the price of their Hydroxychloroquine sulfate as N50,000 and this has stirred up diverse reactions on social media.

The drug became highly sort after when a Nigerian-trained US-based medical doctor said she has used a combination of hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax to treat over 350 Covid-19 patients and none died.

Since the video of the medical doctor went viral, the price of Hydroxychloroquine sulfate in Nigeria has skyrocketed, with some Nigerians claiming they bought theirs for N90,000 in some pharmacies.

Taking to Twitter, a Nigerian music video director called out a certain pharmacy in Port-Harcourt for selling at N50,000.

In their reactions on Twitter, some Nigerian with knowledge of pharmaceutical products explained the differences between Hydroxychloroquine sulfate and the popular malaria drug, Chloroquine Phosphate, which is quite cheaper.

Reports have it that Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is quite expensive and very much more potent than Chloroquine Phosphate, as each drug is used for different medications.

Fayemi recovers from COVID-19

Gov. Kayode Fayemi

The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has recovered from COVID-19, 11 days after testing positive for the infection.

The governor announced his recovery Saturday morning via his official twitter handle @kfayemi after testing negative.

The tweet reads: “After 11 days in isolation, I received news that my COVID-19 repeat test came back negative.

“My sincere gratitude goes to God Almighty, my family, my medical team, and all well-wishers for the prayers and solidarity.

“We must continue to do all we can to tackle the pandemic.

Recall that the governor announced on July 22 that he contracted the novel coronavirus infection.

However, after a few days, the infection hit some members of  his cabinet as commissioners and other aides tested positive.

The affected persons include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Fapohunda, who announced his status Sunday evening, while others remain unnamed.

Speaking during the COVID-19 Task Force media briefing in Ado-Ekiti,  the Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade confirmed that the Attorney General and some unnamed members of the cabinet had tested positive for COVID-19 in Ekiti.

Dr. Yaya-Kolade, revealed that as a physician it was against the ethics of the profession to disclose the identity of COVID-19 patients but said, “those who tested positive have the liberty to announce it on their own.”

“As you are aware that the commissioner for justice announced his status on twitter and I can tell you that there are other members of the cabinet that are also positive but I must say that they are at liberty to disclose or keep to themselves for the obvious reasons”