Lagos task force chair, Egbeyemi, others to be disciplined (Guardian)
If the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu on the excesses of officers enforcing the state-at-home order in Lagos State, is anything to go by, then the chairman of the state Task Force, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi and all the officers seen in a video, would be disciplined.
In the video, the officers led by Egbeyemi, destroyed drinks and items at a bar, including a show-glass in a nearby store.
The IGP had ordered that all those seen in the video, vandalising goods in the shop because of the owner’s failure to heed the directive of Lagos State Government. Read more
COVID-19: Doctors, nurses flee as suspected cases hit Lagos hospital (Punch)
There was pandemonium at the Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos, on Thursday when four white men suspected to have coronavirus were brought to the emergency ward of the hospital for treatment.
According to sources at the hospital, the men said to be Egyptians, were brought in a private vehicle around midnight, with one of them coughing uncontrollably and showing other symptoms of coronavirus.
One of the sources, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH, said, “It was around midnight that they came to the hospital and I was on duty that day. Read more
Lagos NYSC coordinator to engage Corps medical practitioners (Guardian)
Lagos State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator, Mr. Eddy Megwa has said corps medical practitioners serving in the state would be engaged to chart ways towards containing the spread of COVID-19.
Megwa, in a statement, said: “Further to the recent scourge of COVID-19 within Lagos and Nigeria at large, I have deemed it absolutely necessary to communicate with you on a number of issues, owing to the respective potential roles you will undertake in this Coronavirus Health Crisis.
“Make no mistake, the safety and well-being of every corps member remains my utmost priority, let alone our Corps medical practitioners who are always at the front line in battles like this.” Read more
Coronavirus: FCT task force shuts wedding reception, church for violating ban (Punch)
The Federal Capital Territory enforcement team on Saturday disrupted a wedding reception at Police Quarters at Wuse Zone 6 in Abuja.
It was learnt that the enforcement, acting on a tip-off, stormed the venue and “dispersed” the hosts and guests numbering about 300 for violating the ban on public gathering.
The bride and groom were about arriving when the team got to the scene located at a residential neighbourhood.
The FCT Administration had announced the development via its Twitter handle. Read more
Nigeria records eight new COVID-19 cases (Guardian)
Nigeria has recorded eight new Coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total confirmed cases to 89. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) made this known via a press release.
The statement said: “Eight new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Nigeria, seven in Lagos State and one in Benue. As of 4pm on March 28, there are 89 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria with one dead.
“For a breakdown of cases by states, Lagos currently has 59 cases, FCT– three, Ekiti –one, Oyo – three, Edo – two, Bauchi – two, Osun – one, Rivers – one, Enugu – two, and Benue – one.” Read more
Coronavirus: El-Rufai tests positive, top aides to proceed on self-isolation (Punch)
Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Baloni, will on Sunday (today) speak on the contacts of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who on Saturday announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.
Some of the persons that might be asked to go into self-isolation include some of his commissioners, top aides, drivers as well as their families.
Sources close to the governor told one of our correspondents that the commissioner had been mandated to speak on the issue. Read more
COVID-19: MKO Abiola Stadium ready to be used as isolation centre – Dare (DailyTrust)
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has revealed that the MKO Abiola National Stadium is ready to be used as an isolation center following the outbreak of the COVID-19 in the country. He stated this yesterday during an inspection tour of the facilities at the stadium. It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the use of the national stadia in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Kaduna for use as isolation centers. “Our stadium facilities will be available on a need basis as we try to stop COVID-19 in its tracks. Stadium complexes have several facilities. The velodrome is very airy and can serve several purposes. Read more
COVID-19: Prepare for evacuation flights, US tells citizens in Nigeria (Punch)
US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria says it is preparing emergency flights to evacuate its citizens in Nigeria despite airport closures, The PUNCH reports.
This is not unconnected to the exploding coronavirus cases in Nigeria which stand at 81 on Saturday morning according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had closed all international airports in the country including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja to prevent further importation of COVID-19. Read more
Mixed reactions trail Akure explosion (Guardian)
Mixed reactions have trailed the explosion that occurred in the early hours of yesterday at Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, destroying over 100 houses and leaving people with varying degrees of injury.
The Guardian gathered that a truck loaded with explosive substances was conveying dynamites from Ibadan, Oyo State, to a quarry company in Auchi, Edo State, when the incident happened.
Some people, however, attributed the blast to the asteroid flyby, predicted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Friday. Read more
Great-gran, 108, who survived two wars becomes ‘UK’s oldest’ coronavirus victim (Metro)
A great-grandmother who survived two world wars and the outbreak of the Spanish flu died within hours of testing positive for coronavirus. Hilda Churchill had been self-isolating at the Kenyon Lodge care home in Salford, Greater Manchester, for more than a week, but began showing minor symptoms three or four days ago. Her heartbroken family were hoping she would pull through in time to celebrate her 109th birthday next Sunday, April 5. But she passed away on Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after being diagnosed as having contracted Covid-19. Read more
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro threatens Trump in face of drug charges (NYPost)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro slammed President Trump as a “racist cowboy” as he defied a $15 million bounty by the US to face drug-trafficking charges.
Maduro — who warned that he was ready to fight should the US and neighboring Colombia decide to invade — made the remarks Thursday after the US indicted the socialist leader and several other top Venezuelans on charges of “narco-terrorism.”
The State Department offered the reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro, whose nation has been wracked by years of a profound economic crisis and political upheaval. Read more
Coronavirus: Trump backs away from New York quarantine (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has said quarantining New York “will not be necessary”, after the state’s governor said doing so would be “preposterous”.
Mr Trump said the latest decision was taken on the recommendation of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
The president had earlier said he might impose a quarantine on New York, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, to slow the spread of Covid-19.
There are more than 52,000 cases in New York. Read more
South African police fire rubber bullets at shoppers during lockdown (Guardian)
South African police enforcing a coronavirus lockdown on Saturday fired rubber bullets towards hundreds of shoppers queueing outside a supermarket in Johannesburg, an AFP photographer said.
Between 200 and 300 people gathered outside a popular grocery store, Shoprite, early Saturday in Yeoville, a crime-prone area in Johannesburg’s gritty central business district on day two of a nationwide lockdown.
But as they scrambled to secure their spots, many did not observe the recommended safe distance between them. Read more
Coronavirus: Things will get worse, PM warns in letter to Britons (BBC)
The prime minister has warned the coronavirus crisis will get worse before it gets better, in a letter being sent to every UK household.
Boris Johnson, who is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, says stricter restrictions could be put in place if necessary.
Britons will also get a leaflet detailing government rules on leaving the house and health information.
It follows criticism over the clarity of government advice to date.
The number of people who have died with coronavirus in the UK has now reached 1,019, with a further 260 deaths announced on Saturday. Read more
Nude woman ignores coronavirus warnings to straddle ‘Charging Bull’ (NYPost)
Where are her gloves?!
This blond bombshell straddled the “Charging Bull” statue in the nude Thursday — brazenly ignoring all coronavirus protection measures.
With quarantine in effect and the streets empty, no one was there to stop the carefree cowgirl from straddling the Financial District’s bronze icon.
When she eyed a Post photographer, the bull rider took off with a pal who’d been snapping iPhone photos. Read more
What we still don’t know about Coronavirus (BBC)
It feels like an eternity ago, but the world only became aware of the coronavirus in December.
Despite incredible efforts by scientists around the world, there is still much we do not understand, and we are all now part of a planet-wide experiment trying to find answers.
Here are some of the big outstanding questions.
1. How many people have been infected.
It is one of the most basic questions, but also one of the most crucial.
There have been hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases around the world, but this is only a fraction of the total number of infections. And the figures are further confused by an unknown number of asymptomatic cases – people who have the virus but don’t feel ill. Read more
UK woman, 32, suffered ‘unbearable’ pain after contracting coronavirus (NYPost)
A fit and healthy 32-year-old British woman said she suffered “unbearable” pain after contracting COVID-19 on a ski trip in Switzerland, according to new reports.
Rosie Parkes, of White City London, does high-intensity exercise classes every day, but still struggled with painful symptoms of the widespread infection, the Sun reported.
She picked up the bug in Verbier, Switzerland, early this month — and 12 people who stayed in her chalet fell ill, she told the Telegraph.
One of them, a man who lives in Switzerland, tested positive for COVID-19, she told the outlet. Read more
Amokachi advises Ighalo to dump Man United for China’s N190 million-a-week pay (Guardian)
Former Super Eagles Striker, Daniel Amokachi, has advised Odion Ighalo, who is currently on loan at Manchester United to accept the £400,000 weekly (about N190 million) salary his parent club, Shanghai Shenhua is proposing for him to return to the Chinese Super League.
Amokachi said Ighalo needs to understand that as a African footballer, getting such an attractive deal would help boost his profile as one of the best strikers in the world.
He also commended Ighalo for taking a bold step to accept pay cut to play for Manchester United, saying that putting every distraction behind him to play for his dream club was a noble decision.
Amokachi added that the tempting offer from the Chinese club indicated that the erstwhile Super Eagles forward still had much to offer in his career. Read more
Juventus players and Maurizio Sarri agree coronavirus pay freeze (BBC)
Juventus’ players and manager Maurizio Sarri have agreed to their pay being stopped for four months to save the club an estimated 90m euros (£80.7m) during the coronavirus pandemic.
All sport in Italy has been suspended until at least 3 April.
The Juve squad, which includes Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, will not be paid their full salaries in March, April, May and June.
They top Serie A by a point from Lazio. Read more
Ighalo can’t reject United permanent stay – Merson (Punch)
Arsenal legend, Paul Merson, has said he would be shocked to see former Nigeria international, Odion Ighalo, turn down a permanent deal to stay at the Old Trafford and return to China at the end of the season.
Ighalo is in a dilemma after his parent club Shanghai Shenhua decided to offer him a new lucrative deal of £400,000 a week to ensure he return to the club when the current campaign is over, amidst reports that Manchester United are already considering making Ighalo’s loan deal permanent for a fee of £15m in the summer. Read more
Abia warriors extends break by 10 days (Guardian)
As a precaution to the increasing effects of the global Coronavirus pandemic, Abia Warriors FC has extended the existing break period for the club’s players and officials to one week.
According to the Club’s Sporting Director, Patrick Ngwaogu, the new resumption date for the team will now be April 7, 2020.
Head Coach, Willy Udube, while reacting to the new resumption date as announced by the club management, advised the players to increase their private work intensity, while enjoining them to adhere strictly to their training programmes. Read more
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s emotional reaction to NHS workers chanting You’ll Never Walk Alone (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp admitted he was moved to tears after watching a video which featured NHS workers chanting ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Mary Foy, Labour’s MP for Durham City, posted a clip on social media last night which captured healthcare workers singing and swaying to Liverpool’s iconic chant on the night thousands took to the streets to show their appreciation for the NHS staff who are working around the clock to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic. Reacting to the video, Klopp said : ‘My English is not good enough to say. It’s extraordinary, it’s great. Read more
Lampard wary of pushing Chelsea players too hard during virus lay-off (Guardian)
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes it is unrealistic to “push and push” players to maintain their fitness levels during the coronavirus pandemic with no concrete timetable as to when football will return.
Football in England has been suspended until at least April 30, but that date is expected to be pushed back at a meeting of Premier League clubs next week.
The Blues squad are continuing to train at home in line with government guidelines on social distancing. Read more
Man Utd to offer refunds, season ticket delay to fans (Guardian)
Manchester United will refund supporters if they have to play their remaining home games of the season behind closed doors or if they are scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The deadline for season ticket renewals for next season has also been suspended, with no indication as to when the current campaign can re-start.
English football has been suspended until April 30, but a meeting of Premier League clubs next week is expected to push that date further back. Read more