Lagos’ laboratories accredited for COVID-19 testing charge extra fees ranging from N10,000 to N50,000 (Punch)
On June 29, the Lagos Government inaugurated a private lab consortium to expand the testing capacity for COVID-19 in the state. Findings, however, revealed that despite the already high cost of testing at nearly double the monthly minimum wage in the accredited laboratories, some of them levy extra charges they refer to as ‘logistics or mobilisation fee.’ LARA ADEJORO leads our series of reports on the accredited facilities
A few of the seven private laboratories accredited by the Lagos Government to conduct COVID-19 tests in the state charge extra pay for their services under a term they describe as “logistics.” Read more
Policewoman, two children die in Lagos collapsed buildings (Nation)
Police Constable attached to Ikoyi Division, Risikat Balogun and two children were yesterday killed while nine other persons were in critical condition after two buildings collapsed in Lagos. The incident occurred at 16 and 17 Freeman Street, Lagos Island around 2am.
Witnesses said a defective three-storey building was the first to cave-in, adding that it collapsed on a family sleeping inside a nearby bungalow killing a seven-year-old boy, Abdulsalam Balogun.
While some of the occupants including a pregnant woman were rescued before emergency workers arrived the scene, it was gathered that the unnamed Policewoman and a three-year-old boy identified as Paul were later brought out dead. Read more
COVID-19 patient used over 60 cylinders of oxygen – LUTH (Punch)
Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, says oxygen is critical in the management and survival of patients with severe cases of COVID-19.
Prof. Adeyemo said the Federal Government-owned tertiary hospital managed a COVID-19 patient with severe case of infection who consumed over 60 big cylinders of oxygen in the course of treatment that lasted over three weeks.
Adeyemo said the patient’s infection had taken a turn for the worse after she was delivered of a baby via Caesarean Section. Read more
Lagos Govt seals medical laboratory conducting COVID-19 tests illegally (Guardian)
The Lagos State Ministry of Health on Saturday said it had sealed a private medical laboratory conducting COVID-19 tests inside a pharmacy at Banana Island in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The ministry, through its Twitter account, said that the lab; Acouns Medical Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre, situated inside a pharmacy,
was carrying out COVID-19 tests without required government approval. Read more
Denied UK- bound medical doctors were offered jobs (DailyTrust)
The medical doctors denied departure by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) were offered jobs in the United Kingdom.
The medical doctors were being offered between £51,384 (N25.1m) and £98,112 (N47.9m) per annum as reportedly stated in the advertisement for the various positions.
Why medical doctors are leaving Gombe Obasanjo enforces COVID-19 protocols as he buries in-law More facts emerged Saturday on why 58 Nigerian doctors who were heading to the United Kingdom were refused departure by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Read more
COVID-19 compounding cancer survivors challenges – expert (Guardian)
Executive Secretary, Mass Medical Mission (MMM), Dr. Abia Nzelu has said the Coronavirus pandemic has compounded the plight of cancer patients in the country.
According to her, COVID-19 has been unforgiving on people living with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) with cancer survivors at higher risk of severe COVID-19-related illness and death.
Speaking on the International Cancer Survivors Day, Nzelu said the day set aside to celebrate cancer survivors, was meant to appreciate all those who contributed to survivors; honour fallen warriors, whilst raising awareness on the ongoing challenges facing cancer survivors. Read more
Gunmen kidnap top govt official, two others in Ekiti (Nation)
Gunmen on Friday evening kidnapped three persons along Isinbode-Ode road in Isinbode-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The Nation gathered the gun-wielding assailants invaded a sawmill located along the route and dispossessed the workers of their personal belongings before abducting two at the scene.
The source, who confided in our reporter, revealed after the operation, the kidnappers numbering 10, waylaid a Hilux Van conveying a top government official and rained bullet it before leaving with one of the occupants. Read more
Declare killer herdsmen terrorists, Ortom tells FG (Guardian)
Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare armed herdsmen, who are killing innocent people in communities, as terrorists.
Ortom has been crying out against repeated herdsmen’s attacks on different communities in the last couple of months. The latest of such attacks took place Friday night at Tse-Chembe community, near Anyiin in Logo Local Council, where herders murdered seven persons and left many others injured. Read more
Coronavirus: Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan tests positive (BBC)
Amitabh Bachchan, one of India’s best known film actors, has tested positive for Covid-19, he told his millions of Twitter followers.
“I have tested Covid positive, shifted to hospital, hospital informing authorities, family and staff undergone tests, results awaited,” he wrote.
His son, Abhishek, later tweeted he had also tested positive.
Bachchan, 77, has been involved in 200 films since becoming a star five decades ago.
He, and Abhishek, 44, have been taken to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, and his son described them both as having mild symptoms. Read more
Puerto Rico looks to colonial legacy as statues tumble in US (Aljazeera)
Statues, street names, plazas and even the body of conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon himself: Spain left a nearly indelible legacy in Puerto Rico that attracts hordes of tourists every year, but some activists are trying to erase it as they join a United States movement to eradicate symbols of oppression.
Dozens of activists marched through the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital on Saturday, some wearing traditional Taino clothing as they banged on drums and blew on conch shells to demand that the US territory’s government start removing statues, including those of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.
“These statues represent all that history of violence, of invasion, of looting, of theft, of murder,” said an activist who goes by the name of Pluma and who is a member of Puerto Rico’s Council for the Defense of Indigenous Rights. “These are crimes against humanity.” Read more
The Old Guard on Netflix: Who joins Charlize Theron in the cast and what is the film about? (Metro)
Netflix released one of its hotly anticipated titles on Friday 10 July: The Old Guard, a big blockbuster type movie based on a graphic novel. The story follows a team of seemingly immortal warriors as they battle to protect their secrets and the world. The film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Charlize Theron, seeks to put women in action movies in a different light, which is something the director said was important for her to be able to do. What is The Old Guard about? Charlize Theron heads up Netflix’s The Old Guard, a new superhero movie based on a graphic novel and adapted for the screen by its co-creator Greg Rucka. Read more
Coronavirus economic fallout batters Zimbabwe bird sanctuary (VOA)
A fish eagle swoops over the water to grab a fish in its talons and then flies to its nest.
Nearby are a martial eagle, a black eagle, an Egyptian vulture and hundreds of other birds.
With an estimated 400 species of birds on an idyllic spot on Zimbabwe’s Lake Chivero, about 40 kilometers south of Harare, the Kuimba Shiri bird sanctuary has been drawing tourists for more than 15 years.
The southern African country’s only bird park has survived tumultuous times, including violent land invasions and a devastating economic collapse but the outbreak of coronavirus is proving a stern test. Read more
In first, Trump dons masks on visit to Walter Reed army hospital (Aljazeera)
US President Donald Trump, who has avoided wearing a mask in public even as the coronavirus pandemic spread, donned one on Saturday at a military medical facility outside Washington, DC, where he was to meet with wounded soldiers and front-line healthcare workers.
The visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center marked Trump’s first public appearance with a face covering since the virus began sweeping across the United States earlier this year.
Trump had previously refused to wear a mask in public, or ask other Americans to do so, saying it was a personal choice, although he had said he would if he was in a crowd and could not maintain distance from others. Read more
Pop Smoke makes chart history as posthumous album debuts at number two (Metro)
Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon has gone in at number two in the UK albums chart. The rapper’s record is the highest-charting debut album by an international rap artist in 17 years. 50 Cent previously held the accolade, with Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ debuting at number two back 2003. In Da Club rapper 50 Cent executive-produced Pop Smoke’s album, completing it after the 20-year-old was killed. The late star’s 2019 mixtape Meet The Woo 2 also appears in this week’s chart at 32. Read more
Walt Disney World reopens in Florida amid Covid-19 surge (BBC)
Walt Disney World Resort has begun to reopen in Florida despite a coronavirus surge across the US state.
The site’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opened on Saturday. Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are expected to follow from 15 July.
Visitors will be required to wear masks and adhere to other safety measures across the complex in Orlando.
Over a quarter of a million cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Florida, along with 4,197 deaths. Read more
Okocha could have won Ballon d’Or – Beye (Punch)
Former Newcastle and Olympique Marseille defender, Habib Beye, believes ex-Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha, could have won the Ballon d’Or with the talent he had.
The French-born Beye was an academy player at Paris Saint-Germain when the Nigerian, alongside Barcelona legend Ronaldinho, played at the club before the Eagles legend made a move to the Premier League.
While Ronaldinho went on to become a successful player with Barcelona, where he won the UEFA Champions League and was crowned World Footballer of The Year twice, Okocha joined modest Bolton Wanderers, where he also became a cult figure hero. Read more
Ronaldo scores two penalties to save point for leaders Juventus (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Juventus survived a scare to move eight points clear at the top of Serie A with a draw against Atalanta.
The visitors, who controlled long periods of the game, twice went ahead in Turin, via Duvan Zapata and Ruslan Malinovskiy.
However, Ronaldo took his tally to 28 goals in 28 league games with his second penalty in the 90th minute.
Second-placed Lazio had earlier fallen to a shock 2-1 home defeat by Sassuolo. Read more
McGoldrick fires Sheffield United into top six as they beat Chelsea (BBC)
Sheffield United continued their push for European qualification as they moved into the Premier League’s top six with a convincing win over in-form Chelsea at Bramall Lane.
David McGoldrick’s first Premier League goal opened the scoring, pouncing after Kepa Arrizabalaga had saved brilliantly from a deflected Oli McBurnie shot in the 18th minute.
Chelsea’s defence was shaky throughout and they were ruthlessly punished just 15 minutes later when Enda Stevens crossed and McBurnie was left completely unmarked in the six-yard box to power home a simple header. Read more
Furious Frank Lampard tears into Chelsea players after thumping Sheffield United defeat (Metro)
An enraged Frank Lampard ripped into Chelsea’s dismal performance after Sheffield United strengthened their push for European qualification with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Bramall Lane.
David McGoldrick broke the deadlock with his first ever Premier League goal inside 20 minutes and Oli McBurnie doubled the Blades’ advantage going into the break, directing a simple header past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The visitors looked vulnerable throughout and McGoldrick capitalised on Antonio Rudiger’s woeful clearance to put Chris Wilder’s men out of sight with 13 minutes remaining. Read more
Osimhen won’t have racism problem in Naples – Koulibaly (Punch)
Senegal defender, Kalidou Koulibaly, says joining Napoli would be a good choice for Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen.
The highly sought after defensive stalwart said the Lille striker had reached out to him over a possible move to the Italian side.
Osimhen has been strongly linked with the Serie A club after a breakthrough season with French side Lille, where he scored 18 goals in 38 appearances in his debut campaign. Read more
Edberg names the player ‘closest’ to overthrowing Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (Metro)
Stefan Edberg believes Dominic Thiem is the ‘closest’ player to overthrowing the Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Thiem, the world No. 3 from Austria, is one of two active players – along with Daniil Medvedev – aged 26 or younger to reach a Grand Slam final. No active player under the age of 31 has won a major. Read more