Lagos records 2 more COVID-19 related deaths (Guardian)
The Lagos State Ministry of Health, on Monday, announced two more COVID-19 related deaths, as the number of confirmed cases in the state increased to 1,123.
The ministry disclosed this on its Twitter account.
It, however, did not give additional information about age, sex, nationality and medical history of the deceased.
“Two COVID-19 deaths were recorded. This brings the total number of #COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 30,” the ministry tweeted.
According to it, as of May 3, the state recorded 39 new cases of COVID-19 infection, increasing the number of confirmed cases in Lagos to 1,123. Read more
Lagos using private properties as isolation centres – Sanwo-Olu (Punch)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says the state is making use of some private facilities as isolation centres.
He, however, clarified that some of the facilities were unknown to the public.
This, the governor said, was to ensure that the facilities used were not stigmatised after COVID-19.
Sanwo-Olu made this known during a televised briefing on Sunday at the State House in Marina.
He explained that easing the lockdown was to maintain a “delicate balance”. Read more
16 Lagos doctors infected with COVID-19 – Medical Guild (Vanguard)
Medical doctors under the employ of Lagos State Government yesterday expressed worry over-relaxation of the lockdown in the State, disclosing that 16 members of the Medical Guild have been infected with COVID-19.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo explained that the doctors were in a stable condition. Read more
Nigeria to evacuate 270 citizens from US (Guardian)
Nigerian government has said it will begin the evacuation of about 270 Nigerians willing to return to the country from the United States.
This is coming amidst the coronavirus pandemic that has caused many countries to shut down airports. Nigeria has seen shut its airport sin late March to curb the spread of the ravaging virus.
The Consulate General of Nigeria in New York in a statement said a one-way flight has been arranged for the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in the US and would take off on Sunday night. Read more
Bishop Kukah donates 30-room hotel as isolation centre in Sokoto (Punch)
The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Kukah, has handed over a 30-room hotel to the Sokoto State Government as an isolation centre for suspected coronavirus patients in the state.
Announcing via Twitter on Monday afternoon, the Sokoto State Ministry of Health, said Kukah acted on behalf of the Catholic Diocese in the state.
The ministry also confirmed that he handed over a 15-room hospital for the treatment of infected persons in the state. Read more
Lockdown relaxation: NIS begins issuance of passports (Vanguard)
The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has ordered passport offices nationwide to take advantage of the Federal Government phased easing of lockdown to release the processed passport to the applicants.
The Service Public Relations Officer (SPEO), Mr Sunday James, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Recall that Federal Government phased and gradual easing of Lockdown was effective from Monday.
Babandede had during the lock down period directed all the passport offices nationwide to clear all passport backlog for applicants enrolled for immediate issuance when the lock down is lifted. Read more
FG receives $311m Abacha loot (Punch)
The Federal Government, on Monday, confirmed the receipt of $311m looted by the late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha.
The PUNCH reports that the loot was repatriated from the United States and the Bailiwick of Jersey.
The Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said approximately $311,797,866.11 of the Abacha loot was repatriated from the US and Jersey. Read more
Nigerians cautious as Coronavirus lockdown eased (Vanguard)
In Nigeria, businesses have reopened on the first working day after the easing of a lockdown imposed on key urban areas in a bid to restart Africa’s largest economy.
But in the commercial hub, Lagos, traffic jams were absent, indicating that many are remaining indoors.
The lockdown began five weeks ago to contain the spread of coronavirus.
But last week, President Muhammadu Buhari said the measures had imposed “a very heavy economic cost”.
As many in the big cities live a hand-to-mouth existence, the lockdown led to fears that it could leave people hungry as it cut off their means to earn money. Read more
Melaye sues Gbajabiamila, others over infectious diseases bill (Punch)
Former senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has filed a lawsuit at a Federal High Court in Abuja against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, among others, over a controversial bill.
The bill titled ‘Control of Infectious Diseases Bill 2020’, which was sponsored by Gbajabiamila and his colleagues, Pascal Obi and Tanko Sununu, seeks to empower the Federal Government to convert any property in the country, including private properties, to isolation centres.
According to them, the proposed law is designed to prevent the spread of a possible outbreak of infectious diseases. Read more
Daura emir’s palace sealed over confirmed COVID-19 case (DailyTrust)
The palace of the Emir of Daura has been sealed after it recorded a case of COVID-19. President Muhammadu Buhari is from Daura. The secretary to the state government, Dr Mustapha Inuwa, who confirmed the development, said the results of samples taken will determine when the palace will be reopened. “It is a normal protocol worldwide that anywhere positive cases are recorded, the places are sealed off and samples taken to address spread,” he added. Read more
Unilorin set to make COVID-19 vaccine research breakthrough (Guardian)
The University of Ilorin (Unilorin) says it will soon produce a vaccine for Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The institution said this in a Bulletin issued on Monday that a team of medical experts and scientists led by a Professor of Medical Virology, Prof. Mathew Kolawole, is working on the project.
It stated the research team had developed three viable proposals for research on various aspects of the contagious disease. Read more
Malaria ‘completely stopped’ by microbe (BBC)
Scientists have discovered a microbe that completely protects mosquitoes from being infected with malaria.
The team in Kenya and the UK say the finding has “enormous potential” to control the disease.
Malaria is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, so protecting them could in turn protect people.
The researchers are now investigating whether they can release infected mosquitoes into the wild, or use spores to suppress the disease.
What is this microbe?
The malaria-blocking bug, Microsporidia MB, was discovered by studying mosquitoes on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. It lives in the gut and genitals of the insects. Read more
Michelle Obama retraces her roots in ‘Becoming’ documentary trailer (RollingStone)
Netflix has shared the first full trailer for Becoming, an original documentary centered on former First Lady Michelle Obama and her life before and after the presidency of her husband, Barack Obama. The film will launch on the platform on May 6th.
Set to Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire,” the trailer shows footage from Michelle Obama’s 2019 tour in 34 cities across the country, speaking to huge arena crowds as well as to smaller, intimate community circles. Obama also walks viewers through her working-class upbringing on the South Side of Chicago and how it shaped her into the person she is today.
“It was a typical working-class community: some good music, some good barbecue, some good times,” she says, as archival photographs of her as a child growing up in the neighborhood appear onscreen. Later, she tells a community group: “So little of who I am happened in those eight years. So much more of who I was happened before.” Read more
Iran reopens mosques, records almost 80,000 hospital recoveries (Guardian)
Iran on Monday reopened mosques in parts of the country deemed at low risk from coronavirus, as it said almost 80,000 people hospitalised with the illness had recovered and been released.
Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 74 new fatalities brought to 6,277 the total number officially recorded in Iran since it reported its first cases in mid-February.
Iran on Sunday recorded 47 deaths, its lowest daily count in 55 days. Read more
China defends virus record, accuses U.S. of distraction (Vanguard)
Chinese state media hit back at the U.S. on Monday, accusing President Donald Trump’s administration of trying to divert attention from its own “incompetence” with allegations about the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The commentary in the Global Times newspaper, published under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Daily, dismissed as “groundless” allegations that China had covered up the scale of coronavirus outbreak.
It said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claim that intelligence agencies were following up “significant” evidence that the virus came from a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan was “bluffing.’ Read more
South Africa starts coronavirus trial of TB vaccine (Guardian)
Hundreds of South African health workers were given a century-old tuberculosis vaccine on Monday in a trial to see whether the venerable formula can protect against coronavirus.
Devised at France’s legendary Pasteur Institute 100 years ago, the Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) vaccine is one of the world’s oldest and most trusted immunisations.
“We vaccinated the first participant this morning,” Duncan McDonald, head of business development and marketing at a clinical research organisation called TASK, told AFP. Read more
UK coronavirus death toll rises to 28,734 as further 288 people die (Metro)
The UK’s official coronavirus death toll has risen to 28,734, after a further 288 people died, the Health Secretary has confirmed. Speaking during today’s daily press conference, Matt Hancock stated that 1,291,000 tests had been completed in the UK so-far, with 85,186 carried out on Sunday. He noted that there are 13,258 people currently being treated in hospitals for Covid-19, while there are 3,413 critical beds spare. He said that 190,584 people have now tested positive for coronavirus, which is an increase of 3,985. Read more
Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson will play in Covid-19 charity skins game (BBC)
Rory McIlroy will lead golf’s return after a two-month hiatus in a televised charity match in Florida next week.
The world number one will play with Dustin Johnson against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Woolfe in a $4m skins game on 17 May in aid of Covid-19 charities.
With the backing of the PGA Tour this will be seen as a first tentative step since the coronavirus lockdown. Read more
English FA bracing for long spell without fans (Vanguard)
English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke does not believe fans will be allowed into stadiums “any time soon” and has warned that the coronavirus crisis could cost the governing body £300 million ($373 million).
Football across England has been indefinitely suspended, with the 2019/20 season in all leagues below the top four divisions already declared over.
However, there are growing fears that the 2020/21 campaign also faces huge disruption due to social-distancing guidelines.
“With social distancing in place for some time to come we do face substantial changes to the whole football ecosystem,” Clarke wrote in a letter to the FA Council. Read more
Michael Jordan wanted to sign with adidas over nike… Billion Dollar Mistake!!! (TMZ)
Michael Jordan did NOT want to sign with Nike back in the day. Not even close.
He WANTED to sign with ADIDAS IN 1984 … but they didn’t want to make him a priority.
talk about a billion dollar mistake!!!
MJ explained the whole thing in episode 5 of “The Last Dance” … admitting his mum forced him get on a plane and take a pitch meeting with the Swoosh just to hear what they had to say.
“My mother said, ‘You’re gonna go listen. You may not like it, but you’re gonna go listen,'” Jordan said … “She made me get on that plane and go listen.”
At the time, MJ thought Nikes just weren’t a top-flight shoe. He was more into the Adidas.
But, when a very young MJ met with Adidas, they made it clear he would NOT be pushed as their premiere athlete and they weren’t open to giving him his own shoe. Read more
‘I would definitely be interested in it’ – Bale on MLS (Guardian)
Gareth Bale has said he would be interested in playing in Major League Soccer in America if he leaves Real Madrid.
Bale has not been a regular in Zinedine Zidane’s team this season and the 30-year-old almost departed last summer, before a move to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning fell through.
Any MLS club keen to sign Bale would likely have to overcome the huge financial implications of a deal. Bale’s Madrid contract ends in 2022 and earns him close to 30 million euros ($33 million) a year before tax. Read more
Serie A awaits Ronaldo as training resumes (DailyTrust)
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo (7) dribbles past Senad Lulic of Lazio (left) during their Serie A match recently Cristiano Ronaldo has been recalled from Portugal as Serie A clubs get back to individual training on Monday after a two-month coronavirus lockdown, but doubts remain over whether the championship can return. The interior ministry’s go-ahead for players to return to club training facilities two weeks ahead of schedule has offered fans hope that the 2019-20 season might yet be saved. The government was responding after regions that had avoided the worst of the pandemic took matters into their own hands and gave permission to clubs to open their facilities for players to train on their own. Read more
Don Shula: Miami Dolphins Super Bowl-winning head coach dies, aged 90 (BBC)
Don Shula won two successive Super Bowl titles with the Miami Dolphins in the 1970s
Legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula has died at the age of 90.
Shula guided the Dolphins to successive Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, and holds the record for the most career wins as an NFL head coach with 347.
He guided the Dolphins to the NFL’s only perfect season in 1972, winning all 14 regular season games, two play-off games and beating the Washington Redskins to win his first Super Bowl.
The Dolphins won the 1973 Super Bowl but Shula lost for other finals. Read more