Lagos may record 120,000 positive cases – Commissioner (Nation)
Lagos Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Friday said the State may record between 90,000 and 120,000 cases of coronavirus by July or August when it reaches the peak.
Abayomi disclosed this at a news conference at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja while giving updates on coronavirus in the State.
He said the state was yet to reach the virus peak, which will likely be around July and August.
Abayomi stated that Lagos has ramped testings to reach large number of people in a bid to flatten the curve.
He attributed the increase in cases being recorded to the decentralisation of sample collection to the 20 Local Governments. Read more
COVID-19: Lagos hospital inaugurates 5-man response team (Guardian)
As part of measures to further curb the spread of COVID-19, the Alimosho General Hospital, Lagos on Friday inaugurated a 5-man COVID-19 response team to monitor activities in the facility.
The Medical Director, Dr Madewa Adebajo, said during the inauguration that the purpose of the team was to establish a functional monitoring group that would swiftly identify suspected COVID-19 cases as a precaution.
The team comprises of Adebajo, Head of Surgery Department, Head of Nursing, and two members of the surgical unit.
Meanwhile, the medical director also commissioned four additional modern hand washing devices at the entrances of the two Maternal Childcare centres within the Facility. Read more
COVID-19: Lagos to commence chloroquine clinical trial (Vanguard)
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi on Friday, said that plans have been concluded to commence hydroxychloroquine (chloroquine) clinical trial next week for treatment of COVID-19 patients in the state.
Abayomi said this during a media briefing on the update of COVID-19 in the state, held in Alausa, Ikeja.
He also noted that with the current trend, the COVID-19 cases in Lagosis expected to reach its peak by July or August while predicting the megacity and epicentre of the COVID-19 in Nigeria will record between 90,000 and 120,000 cases. Read more
Nigerians evacuated from UK land in Lagos (Nation)
Some Nigerians evacuated from the United Kingdom have landed in Lagos.
They were evacuated after being stranded by the coronavirus pandemic.
Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed their arrival.
According to her: “The first evacuation from the Uk has landed in Lagos. The passengers will be proceeding to Abuja where they will be on 14-day compulsory isolation.” Read more
South-West govs inaugurate O’dua investment board (Punch)
The South-West Governors’ Forum on Friday said it had inaugurated the board of O’dua Investment Limited.
This was contained in a statement issued in Akure by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Ondo State, Mr Donald Ojogo, on behalf of the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Read more
Boundary closure: Police commissioner warns security personnel against corruption (Guardian)
The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmad Abdurrahman, has warned security personnel charged with boundary closure duties against exhibiting corrupt tendencies.
A statement issued by the command Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, on Friday in Enugu, said the commissioner gave the warning and consequences of sanctions after inspecting the level of enforcement of the boundary closure with neighbouring states recently.
It would be recalled that the boundary closure is a directive of the Enugu State Government to forestall unnecessary movement of people and check the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. Read more
COVID-19: Kwara arrests 31 passengers for violating interstate boundary order (Vanguard)
At least 31 passengers have been arrested in Kwara state for allegedly violating the inter-state boundary order of both the state and the federal government as parts of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state.
While relaxing the lockdown last week Thursday, Governor Abdulrazaq had announced the ban in intra and interstate transportation to discourage possible importation of Covid-19 patients from neighboring states.
Recall that five new cases of Covid-19 patients were announced by the state government Thursday night. Read more
Nigeria may face famine in 2021 – Poultry farmers (Punch)
The Poultry Association of Nigeria has warned that the country may face starvation in 2021 due to the lockdown across the nation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President of the association, Mr Ezekiel Ibrahim Mam, made this known in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday.
He said, “This year 2020, we are at least better off because we have enough food on ground but in 2021 we are going to face clear starvation, not just hunger because of lockdown and restriction of movement of people since farmers cannot move to their farms. Read more
Australia reports ‘surge’ in illegal hydroxychloroquine imports as people seek alternative treatments for Covid-19 (RT)
Australian authorities have reported a spike in drug smuggling – but not the kind they usually deal with. Aussies are importing hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial medication used as a controversial antidote to Covid-19.
Dozens of packages containing more than 6,000 tablets have been intercepted since January, the Australian Border Force (ABF) announced in a press release on Friday.
In a video posted to Twitter, the ABF showed a parcel containing several boxes hydroxychloroquine wrapped in fabric. The force warned Australians against “self-prescribing” the drug. Read more
Scientists witness true violence of Jupiter’s ferocious storms in greater detail than ever before (RT)
A years-long observation program of the planet Jupiter has revealed some of the most detailed images ever captured of the gas giant, exposing the truly bizarre nature of its ultraviolent, planet-wide storms.
Vast swathes of the planet are consumed by ferocious storms the likes of which we have never seen here on Earth; indeed, Jupiter’s famous and permanent ‘Red Spot’ storm is larger than the Earth itself.
Researchers using the powerful Gemini Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope managed to capture thermal radiation glowing through the planet’s thick clouds, and then to compare and contrast them with optical images taken hours later. Read more
Malawi court rejects president’s appeal against poll annulment (Guardian)
Malawi’s top court on Friday rejected President Peter Mutharika’s bid to overturn a landmark ruling quashing his controversial re-election, paving the way for a rerun in July.
Mutharika had garnered just 38.5 percent of the annulled May 21 vote to win a second term but the Constitutional Court nullified the results, citing “grave” and “widespread” irregularities, including the use of correction fluid on ballot papers.
Both Mutharika and Malawi’s national poll body (MEC) had appealed the ruling and Mutharika had accused the court of bias. Read more
New York eviction moratorium extended, new tenant protections issued (NYPost)
Empire State renters hit hard by the coronavirus can rest easy for another few months, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday extended a moratorium on non-payment evictions through August 20.
“The number one issue that people talk to me about probably is rent, and fear about being able to pay their rent,” said Cuomo in a press briefing in Valhalla, NY. “And this just takes that issue off the table until August 20.”
With the coronavirus and resulting shutdowns driving massive unemployment, Cuomo first issued the moratorium on March 18, set to run through June 18. Read more
VE Day: Europe marks 75th anniversary amid coronavirus lockdown (BBC)
Leaders across Europe are marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day with low-key ceremonies, as much of the continent remains under coronavirus lockdown.
The UK has held a two-minute silence to honour the war dead, and later an address by the Queen will be broadcast.
The leaders of France and Germany, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, laid wreaths at small ceremonies.
Other events are also being held to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, but large gatherings remain forbidden. Read more
US Justice Dept drops case against ex-Trump aide Flynn (Guardian)
The US Justice Department withdrew its case against former White House national security advisor Michael Flynn Thursday, handing President Donald Trump a major political victory.
In a nearly unheard-of reversal, the department said in a filing that Flynn’s December 2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI in an interview over his Russia contacts was moot because the lies were insignificant.
It also said the FBI’s original probe of him — part of the sweeping counterintelligence investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election — had no “legitimate investigative basis.” Read more
Man Utd: Odion Ighalo wants to extend loan and finish season (BBC)
Odion Ighalo hopes his loan deal at Manchester United is extended until the Premier League season is completed.
The Nigeria striker, 30, moved from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in January and has a contract until 31 May.
Premier League bosses hope to resume the season in June but, with China’s Super League also intent on a restart, Ighalo may have to return to Shanghai. Read more
Ibrahimovic keeps busy in Sweden, fuelling talk he will stay (Guardian)
AC Milan was on Friday awaiting the belated return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from a protracted and productive coronavirus exile in Sweden that has fuelled speculation in his native country that their biggest star was coming home for good.
While most of his AC Milan team-mates have had to sit idle because of the pandemic, Ibrahimovic was busy training in Sweden with players at Hammarby, a first-division club which he part owns.
Unlike much of the rest of Europe, where containment has limited or prevented athletes training, in Sweden restrictions to contain Covid-19 have been more flexible. Read more
More substitutes and option to stop VAR when football season resumes (BBC)
Teams will be allowed to use five substitutes when the season resumes after a FIFA proposal to help with fixture congestion was approved.
The change applies to competitions due to be completed within this calendar year, and the decision on whether to implement the changes is for each relevant competition organiser.
There is also an option to stop using the video assistant referee system. Read more
Premier League does not yet have ‘green light’, minister warns (Guardian)
Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden warned on Friday that the Premier League does not yet have the “green light” to resume but restated the government’s hope that the season can be completed.
Premier League clubs are due to meet on Monday to discuss the latest plans for “Project Restart” — a day after an expected minor easing of coronavirus lockdown measures.
Clubs are understood to have been told that the use of a limited number of neutral venues is the only way to complete the campaign, to limit the strain on essential services and discourage gatherings of supporters near stadiums. Read more
Arsenal set to complete deal for winger George Lewis (Metro)
Arsenal look set to finalise a move for Norwegian winger George Lewis after he impressed the club on a two-week trial, according to reports. The 19-year-old is a free agent after leaving Norwegian side Tromso and the Gunners would therefore not need to pay a fee to sign the teenager. Lewis spent a fortnight on loan with the Gunners earlier this year and was at Arsenal’s 1-0 win against West Ham in March as a guest of the club. Read more
Inter Milan players all test negative for coronavirus (Nation)
Inter Milan’s entire first team squad have given negative results in testing for the coronavirus, the Serie A club said on Friday as they prepared to resume training.
Nearly all Serie A clubs have re-started training on an individual basis this week following a two-month stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic and all players and staff are subject to testing.
Sampdoria said previously they had found three new positive cases, Fiorentina reported six positive tests —- three players and three back-up staff —- and Torino one. Read more