No new coronavirus case in 24 hours – Lagos health commissioner (Punch)
No new case of coronavirus was recorded in Lagos State on Monday.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, confirmed this in a tweet on Tuesday.
This is coming barely 24 hours after the state reported 70 new COVID-19 cases, highest to be recorded by any state in Nigeria in one day.
Abayomi’s confirmation came a few hours after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control also announced no new case in Lagos.
Despite not recording any new case of COVID-19 in 24 hours, Lagos, which has the highest confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nigeria, reported deaths. Read more
Lagos Ramadan makeshift food markets hold tomorrow (Guardian)
The Ramadan edition of the emergency neighbourhood food markets for residents of Lagos State essentially to address the problem associated with the lockdown and the promotion of social distancing in the fight against the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 comes up on Wednesday, April 22.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, in a statement, yesterday, explained that the neighbourhood food markets would hold in 27 selected public schools within 14 local government areas of the state.
Lawal pointed out that the neighbourhood food markets were basically set up in order to provide Lagosians access to food supplies during the lockdown with a view to preventing panic buying in line with the governor’s directives closing all markets and stores trading in non-essential commodities. Read more
Four dead as car rams into commuters in Lagos (Punch)
At least four people reportedly died in Lagos on Tuesday when a car rammed into commuters standing at a bus stop.
It was gathered that the accident happened at Ogudu, inward Third Mainland Bridge.
According to an eyewitness, no fewer than four people died in the accident.
The eyewitness said the accident, which saw some persons injured, also involved children. Read more
Lagos records two more COVID-19 deaths (DailyTrust)
The remains of President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff Abba Kyari who died on the 17th of April 2020 from COVID:19. Photo: Felix Onigbinde, 18/04/202 The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said two persons infected with the coronavirus have died in the state. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi disclosed this via his Twitter handle: @ProfAkinAbayomi He said that one of the deceased was a Nigerian with travel history to India, noting that aside the two deaths, the State hasn’t recorded any new case since April 19, when it had 70 new confirmed cases of the virus, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). “No new case of #COVID19 was confirmed in Lagos on 20th April, 2020. However, #COVID19 related deaths were recorded in Lagos. One of the deceased was a 45 years old Nigerian; male who returned from India in January, 2020,” he tweeted. Read more
COVID-19 Lockdown: Crowd besiege RTEAN secretariat in Lagos for palliatives (Nation)
Hundreds of the people on Tuesday besieged the Lagos State Secretariat of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) seeking palliatives to ease financial burdens occasioned by the COVID-19 lockdown.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the situation, observed no fewer than 1000 residents of the RTEAN host community came for financial assistance and food items.
Among the people were pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, youths and adults queuing to receive assistance from the union.
The security agents were controlling the crowd and preventing them from blocking the gate to the secretariat in Igando, a suburb of Lagos. Read more
Kano government investigating “surge in deaths” – official (Guardian)
The Kano State Government says it has begun investigation into claims that there was a surge in deaths in Kano metropolis.
Dr Tijjani Hussaini, Executive Secretary, Kano State Primary Healthcare Board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Kano that medics were yet to ascertain the medical cause of the said deaths, but acknowledged that the situation had “sent residents panicking”.
“The investigation is prompted by reports that more deaths have been recorded in the past seven days,” Hussaini, who did not state the number of deaths so far recorded, told NAN. Read more
Katsina residents besiege banks, markets, lockdown begins (Punch)
It was a chaotic situation in many banks, markets and shops in Katsina metropolis on Monday as residents made last minute transactions before the lockdown order imposed on the city from today (Tuesday) to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state by Governor Aminu Masari comes into effect.
The governor had on Sunday announced the lockdown of the city and the entire Katsina Local Government Area following the discovery of two new cases of coronavirus in the city, which brings the number of such cases to 12 in the state with one death already recorded.
Residents turned out in large numbers at banks, markets, supermarkets and big shops in the Katsina metropolis to make withdrawals and buy foodstuffs, preparatory to the lockdown. Read more
COVID-19: Diets that boost immune system – Experts (DailyTrust)
There is no single food item that can prevent or cure coronavirus (COVID-19) at present, the Dietitians Association of Nigeria has said. The association, however, said an adequate diet would help support the body’s immune system to fight infections. It said its attention was drawn to several claims regarding nutrition and COVID-19, and that dietitian-nutritionists have also received several questions concerning what to eat to prevent coronavirus infection. The dieticians said their association and relevant regulatory agencies have also not approved any single supplement or combinations to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19. “There is no evidence that any supplement or health product will protect the body against the coronavirus. Read more
Buhari’s personal bodyguard dies (Nation)
The Presidency, on Tuesday, announced the death of one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal bodyguards, Warrant Officer Lawal Mato.
Mato, according to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, succumbed to diabetes, which he had struggled with in the last three years, on Tuesday.
He was one of the security details restored back to President Buhari by the late President Umaru Musa-Yar’adua as personal security, but had been off full duty in the last three years. Read more
Coronavirus: Johnson speaks to Trump as recovery continues (BBC)
Boris Johnson has spoken on the phone to US President Donald Trump, as his recovery from coronavirus continues.
The prime minister, who is recuperating at his official country residence, is also expected to speak to the Queen by phone this week.
Downing Street said Mr Johnson is currently not doing any formal government work but is receiving updates from senior colleagues.
No 10 said he had thanked Mr Trump for his good wishes whilst he was unwell. Read more
Global shutdown becomes environmental experiment (VOA)
Pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have decreased across the globe, as countries strive to contain the spread of the coronavirus by ordering people to stay at home.
Among the many unknown facts about this new virus is what kind of long-term impact it will have on the environment.
Since the outbreak in December 2019 and the subsequent pandemic, businesses have shuttered, airlines have slashed services, and more and more people are working from home or not working at all, cutting traffic to a minimum.
The global shutdown has inadvertently become an experiment in the reduction of greenhouse gases. Read more
Kim Jong-un illness rumours denied amid intense speculation (BBC)
Kim Jong-un is seriously ill after heart surgery are not true, officials in South Korea have said.
Headlines that Kim Jong-un was “gravely ill”, “brain-dead” or “recovering from an operation” were always going to be impossible to verify.
But the presidential office in Seoul has said there have been no particular signs from the North to indicate the 36-year-old is “gravely ill”. Read more
French lawmakers to vote on controversial Covid-19 smartphone-tracing app (France24)
The French government has decided to allow lawmakers to vote on its plan to launch a contact tracing app to fight the coronavirus outbreak, lawmakers and the prime minister’s office said on Tuesday.
The government’s U-turn came after mounting criticism from members of parliament, including MPs from President Emmanuel Macron’s party. It initially planned to hold a debate on April 28-29 without a vote.
”Thanks to the government for finally changing its mind, it’s a good decision for democracy,” lawmaker Matthieu Orphelin tweeted.
The planned smartphone app would warn users if they come into contact with anyone infected with the coronavirus to help to contain the epidemic as France looks to emerge from lockdown.
For all the espoused benefits of such apps, the issue has proved somewhat divisive in Europe, with deep misgivings expressed over the potential for data abuse and privacy violations. Read more
Mum of six faces jail for breaking stay-at-home order with yard sale (NYPost)
An Idaho mum could face jail time for holding a yard sale during the state’s strict lockdown order, cops said.
Christa Thompson was first warned on April 9 that her garage sale was breaking the law — but still had it running more than a week later, despite repeated warnings, Rathdrum Police Department said.
Cops finally issued Thompson a citation for breaking the lockdown measures last Friday while making their fourth trip out to warn her after repeated complaints from neighbors, police said.
“A garage sale/yard sale is not an essential business and should not be open for business,” police said in a statement, noting it “filled the entire front yard and spilled into the back yard as well.” Read more
Coronavirus vaccine being trialled on humans at Oxford University within two days (Metro)
A Covid-19 vaccine being developed at the University of Oxford will be trialled on humans for the first time in 48 hours. Speaking during the daily No 10 press briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government was ‘throwing everything at’ developing a new, successful vaccine. Mr Hancock said the UK was at the ‘forefront of the global effort’ and that two of the world’s leading vaccine developments are taking place at the universities of Oxford and Imperial. The health secretary said scientists at Oxford are now ready to take their vaccine to human trials on Thursday. Read more
Girls’ robotics team in Afghanistan building ventilator prototype from old car parts (NYPost)
On most mornings, Somaya Farooqi and four other teenage girls pile into her dad’s car and head to a mechanic’s workshop. They use back roads to skirt police checkpoints set up to enforce a lockdown in their city of Herat, one of Afghanistan’s hot spots of the coronavirus pandemic.
The members of Afghanistan’s prize-winning girls’ robotics team say they’re on a life-saving mission — to build a ventilator from used car parts and help their war-stricken country battle the virus.
“If we even save one life with our device, we will be proud,” said Farooqi, 17. Read more
Philippe Coutinho ‘very close’ to completing Chelsea transfer move (Metro)
Chelsea are closing in on an agreement to sign Barcelona misfit Philippe Coutinho in the summer transfer window, according to reports in Spain. Coutinho, 27, has badly struggled to live up to expectations after swapping Liverpool for Barca back in 2018 and was sent on loan to Bayern Munich last summer in a bid to boost his confidence and get his stuttering career back on track. The Brazilian playmaker impressed in the Bundesliga – racking up eight goals and six assists before the coronavirus crisis brought German football to a halt – but Bayern will not take up their option to make the deal permanent for a fee of €120million (£105m). Read more
UEFA says some leagues could be cancelled ‘in special cases’ (BBC)
UEFA is still planning for a June restart across its leagues but says in “special cases” some could be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
All 55 European national FAs met by video conference on Tuesday when ways to finish the season were outlined.
Each involved a June start, with the Champions League final on 29 August. Read more
Sheffield Utd players defer wages till end of 2020 (Guardian)
Sheffield United players will defer part of their wages until the end of 2020 to help the Premier League club ride out the economic storm caused by coronavirus.
The Blades manager Chris Wilder, senior members of his coaching staff and chief executive Stephen Bettis have also agreed a wage deferral for six months.
Southampton and West Ham have agreed wage deferrals, while Arsenal became the first Premier League club to reach a deal on pay cuts with players taking 12.5 percent less for a year. Read more
Leicester icon underscores Ndidi’s influence for Foxes (Nation)
Leicester City icon Steve Walsh believes Brendan Rodgers’ influence over the Foxes’ youngest players has been clear for all to see over recent months at King Power Stadium and he however, singled out Wilfred Ndidi as a key player for Rodgers’ side.
Before the Premier League’s suspension, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, City sat third in the Premier League standings, eight points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United.
A campaign which has included Club records for biggest home and away Premier League victories and an eight-game winning run has delighted Walsh, a Fox between 1986 and 2000. Read more
Crystal Palace claim to be world’s oldest professional club (punch)
Crystal Palace have made an audacious claim to be considered the oldest league club in existence still playing professional football after new research appeared to show they were founded in 1861.
For decades Notts County, currently playing in England’s fifth-tier National League, have been regarded as the oldest professional club following their foundation in 1862.
But author Peter Manning, working on behalf of Premier League side Palace, has discovered a link between the south Londoners, founded as a professional club in 1905, and a cricket and football club formed a year before County were born. Read more
Teenager Davies extends Bayern Munich deal (Guardian)
Talented Canadian teenager Alphonso Davies says it is a “dream come true” to extend his Bayern Munich contract until 2025, joining Thomas Mueller and coach Hansi Flick who have also prolonged their involvement with the German champions.
Davies is the latest Bayern star offered an extension after Mueller and Flick both recently signed new contracts until 2023.
Davies, 19, was originally signed until June 2023, but the versatile teenager has impressed this season, both on the left-wing and at left-back. Read more
NBBF announces postponement of FIBA Certification Course (DailyTrust)
The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Afolabi-Oluwayemi Olabisi The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Afolabi-Oluwayemi Olabisi yesterday announced the indefinite postponement of the 2020 FIBA Certification Course for its Table Officials. According to her, the decision to postpone the training course earlier slated to commence on the 27th of April is due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resultant restrictions of movements all over the world. “Since the Federal Government has announced suspension of non-essential flights in and out of the country as well as total lockdown in Lagos, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory, it will be next to impossible and socially irresponsible to still go ahead with the training.” Read more