Young people do better with coronavirus – Lagos health commissioner (Punch)
Lagos State Health Commissioner, Prof Akin Abayomi, says the youth population in the state gives it an edge in the fight against the pandemic.
He said young people do better with the virus and the government would undertake a study on the genetics of this segment of its population.
The commissioner, who stated this on Saturday on Channels Television, said no severe case of the virus has been recorded amongst the young population in Lagos. Read more
Lagos impounds 20 vehicles, 15 bikes (Nation)
Lagos State Government has impounded 20 vehicles and 15 motorbikes for violating the lockdown order.
Worried by non-compliance with the lockdown order by motorists, an Enforcement Team comprised of officials of the Task Force, State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Police officers and men from the Ministry of Transportation visited Ikorodu road, Ojota, Jibowu, Ebute-Metta, Otto and Iddo corridor among other places on Saturday to enforce the directives.
Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Toyin Fayinka, who led the operation, said the enforcement was effected to stem down the rising spread of the community-based Coronavirus. Read more
COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu directs compulsory use of face mask from Monday (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday, announced compulsory use of face mask by residents from Monday, April 27, as part of measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 pandemic which has continued to be on the rise in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, who also disclosed other important measures taken by state, however, announced the release of 209 prisoners from various prisons across the state.
He explained that the move aimed at decongesting the prisons in view of the ravaging deadly COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the freed prisoners included aged and physically challenged as well as those with minor offences, among other considerations. Read more
Lagos approves e-lecture portals for tertiary institutions (Nation)
The Lagos State Government has approved an e-learning platform for seven of its tertiary institutions.
A statement signed by Special Adviser to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, noted that it was part of measures to keep classes running despite school closures occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The schools that would use the platform are: Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Lagos College of Health Technology and Lagos State College of Nursing and Midwifery. Read more
Expert advocates construction of underground drainage to eliminate malaria (Guardian)
Dr Babajide Puddicombe, President, Malaria Society of Nigeria (MSN), has called on the Federal Government to construct underground drainage system across the country to minimise deaths due to malaria.
Puddicombe gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ota, Ogun, on Sunday.
He was speaking against the backdrop of the World Malaria Day, marked on April 25.
“`The gradual construction of underground drainage systems all over the country will go a long way in eliminating the major breeding sites for the female anopheles mosquito that transmits the malaria parasites, ‘’ he said. Read more
Police arrest suspected killers of Kaduna seminarian (Punch)
The Nigeria Police Force announced on Sunday, the arrest of three suspected killers of a Catholic Seminarian, Michael Nnadi.
The Police, in a statement via its Twitter handle, said the gang was arrested after months of “intensive and extensive intelligence-led operations by crack detectives of the Intelligence Response Team”.
The PUNCH had reported that Nnadi was a student at the Catholic Good Shepherd Major Seminary in Gonin Gora, Kakau in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Read more
Imo records first COVID-19 case (Nation)
Imo State at the weekend recorded its index COVID-19 case.
The government said it has begun contacts tracing of those the patient came in contact with.
Secretary of the State Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Dr. Austin Ikeji, confirmed to The Nation Imo has recorded its first coronavirus patient.
He said the patient has been taken to the isolation centre for treatment. Read more
Ikpeazu declares dusk to dawn curfew in Abia (Guardian)
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has declared a dusk to dawn curfew on the state as part of government efforts to check further spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the state.
Ikpeazu said this on Saturday in Aba while addressing newsmen on the state government’s efforts toward handling recent developments in the state.
He said that an extensive contact tracing exercise had commenced in Ukwa West, Ikwuano and Umuahia North Local Government Areas, which are thd epicentre of the state’s index cases. Read more
COVID-19: Nollywood has incurred huge losses – Seyi Shay (Vanguard)
The pandemic COVID-19 has left many casualties in its wake since it broke out last December in Wuhan, China. Nothing has been spared; economies, social lives, human lives and practically everything we knew is never the way it used to be.
Voicing her own private torture and concern, Nigerian singer, Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, better known as Seyi Shay, revealed how the pandemic has affected her.
“I don’t even want to talk about how much money I have lost because of this global lockdown. Shows, endorsement deals and all. I pray Almighty restores everything that my fellow artistes and you have lost,” she says on her Twitter handle. Read more
Coronavirus: Spain’s children run free from lockdown – but not all (BBC)
When Spain’s government announced a national lockdown in mid-March, in reaction to coronavirus, not everyone was dismayed at the prospect of spending several weeks at home.
Miguel Sánchez, a 15-year-old from Madrid, was delighted he wouldn’t have to go to school for the foreseeable future.
Six weeks later, having not left the family’s flat once, the lockdown has lost some of its shine for him and he still does not know when he will be able to go out.
Restrictions have been partially lifted for children under the age of 14 for the first time. That means Miguel’s younger brother, Jaime, can now go out each day. But Miguel cannot. Read more
UK resists calls to ease lockdown as Johnson set to return to work (Guardian)
Boris Johnson will return to work at the start of the week as pressure increases on the UK government over its handling of the coronavirus crisis which has claimed more than 20,000 lives.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky News that Johnson would be back in his Downing Street office on Monday after recovering from the virus and was in “good spirits” and “raring to go”.
Johnson has been recuperating at the British prime ministerial retreat, Chequers, outside London since his release from hospital on April 12. Read more
US records 2,494 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours (Punch)
The United States recorded 2,494 more coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, according to figures reported Saturday night by Johns Hopkins University.
The country now has an overall death toll of 53,511, with 936,293 confirmed infections, according to a tally by the Baltimore-based university at 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Sunday).
The United States is by far the hardest-hit country in the global pandemic, in terms of both confirmed infections and deaths. Read more
Per Olov Enquist: Swedish author dies at the age of 85 (BBC)
One of Sweden’s best-known authors, Per Olov Enquist, has died aged 85.
His career spanned more than half a century, and his work won acclaim not just in his native country but across Europe, especially France and Germany.
Enquist’s plays and novels – described as pessimistic in their outlook – often deal with questions of truth, and the blurred lines between fact and fiction.
The film Pelle the Conqueror, whose screenplay he helped write, won an Oscar for best foreign-language film. Read more
No evidence COVID-19 survivors can’t be reinfected – WHO (Punch)
The global death toll in the novel coronavirus pandemic soared past the grim 200,000 milestone on Sunday, as the World Health Organization warned against “immunity passports” for recovered patients, seen as a possible tool for countries preparing to re-open their economies.
The WHO opposes such “passports” because recovery from the virus might not protect a person from reinfection.
“There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from #COVID19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection,” the UN health body said in a statement. Read more
Coronavirus: Cuban doctors go to South Africa (BBC)
More than 200 doctors from Cuba are due to arrive in South Africa to help fight coronavirus.
The medics left on a plane that first carried a donation of South African medical supplies to the Caribbean island, its embassy in Pretoria said.
They are among 1,200 healthcare workers sent to battle Covid-19 in 22 countries that have requested help from the communist state.
South Africa is to begin easing strict lockdown restrictions next month. Read more
Brad Pitt turns into Dr. Anthony Fauci in attempt to debunk Donald Trump’s coronavirus plan ‘liberties’ (Metro)
Brad Pitt turned into Dr Anthony Fauci in order to debunk Donald Trump’s latest coronavirus comments in a skit for SNL. The weekly satire show hosted its second ‘at home’ episode this weekend as they’re currently unable to perform in front of their traditional live studio audience thanks to the pandemic outbreak. Sitting in his office, the actor made a cameo appearance for the long-running series’ political cold-open, starting with the White House task force doctor thanking fans for their ‘supportive, inspiring and sometimes graphic emails’.
He then said that the President had been taking some ‘liberties’ with their guidelines, addressing Trump’s claims that they could find a ‘disinfectant to inject into humans’, and shooting down the phrase they’ll get vaccines ‘relatively soon’. Read more
I wanted to be a Policeman, says Plateau Utd goal poacher, Mustapha Ibrahim (DailyTrust)
Plateau United’s leading goalscorer and CHAN Eagles striker, Mustapha Ibrahim has sensationally disclosed that when he was growing up, his dream was to be an officer in the Nigerian Police Force. The former El-Kanemi Warriors and Enyimba FC striker told Daily Trust that his love for the Nigerian Police uniform was one of the reasons he wanted join the force. Mustpaha who admitted it is already too late for him to join the Nigerian Police said he was also desirous of an opportunity to help in maintaining law and order. Read more
Ndidi rules out Leicester summer exit (Nation)
Leicester City midfielder Wilfried Ndidi has ruled out summer exit insisting he is happy at King Power Stadium.
Ndidi was in excellent form before the Premier League was suspended due to the spread of coronavirus. His performance saw him linked with a number of clubs including Manchester United. However, the 23-year-old has been quick to play down any transfer talk.
Read Also: Giroud set to extend Chelsea contract
“I still have a contract with Leicester. I am learning and trying to improve myself every day and I am doing OK here, so no need to go anywhere,” he said. Read more
Chelsea hero Diego Costa takes fresh swipe at former manager Antonio Conte (Metro)
Diego Costa has taken a fresh swipe at Antonio Conte, claiming the former Chelsea manager would not last a season at Real Madrid. Italian boss Conte arrived at Stamford Bridge in April 2016 and won the Premier League title in his first season in England. Conte added the FA Cup to his CV during the subsequent campaign but was sacked in the summer of 2018 after Chelsea missed out on Champions League qualification. Former Chelsea striker Costa left Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2016-17 season following a row with Conte and returned to Atletico Madrid. Read more
Coronavirus: Nicaraguan boxing event goes ahead with masks and temperature checks (BBC)
Boxing action may have ground to a halt in the United Kingdom and across the world because of the coronavirus pandemic – but in Nicaragua, it is business as usual.
Well, almost.
On Saturday night, a fight card with a difference took place in capital city Managua, with fighters sporting face masks – as did referees, judges, the media, fans and ring girls.
It was estimated only around 10% of the arena would be filled in Managua.
Boxers were allowed to remove their protective mask to fight, while those in attendance were instructed to disinfect their hands and shoes upon entry before being forced to sit a safe distance apart. Read more
Joseph Parker wants Dillian Whyte bout and discusses coronavirus lockdown videos (BBC)
Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker wants a rematch with Britain’s Dillian Whyte and believes he can avenge his 2018 defeat.
Parker, 28, lost on points to Whyte at London’s O2 Arena in a bout that saw both men hit the canvas.
They have recorded three wins each since, with Whyte set to face Russia’s Alexander Povetkin next on 4 July.
“We had a great first fight, he was the better man on the day but I believe I can beat him,” Parker told BBC Sport. Read more
Players to be banned from having sex with partners displaying coronavirus symptoms when Bundesliga returns (Metro)
The return of professional football in Germany is on the horizon with the Bundesliga set to resume on May 9. Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics have been among the most significant casualties with the coronavirus pandemic decimating the sporting calendar, but hope of a return to a semblance of normality is offered by the impending return of competitive football in Germany after a seven-week break. A document released by the German Football Association and the DFL has outlined plans for football to return as safely as possible, with guidelines in place for training, matchdays and living arrangements. Read more
Marathon greats Kipchoge, Bekele fight to stay fit (DailyTrust)
Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele should have spent this week finalising their preparations for the London Marathon but the two best distance runners in history are instead out alone on the trails of East Africa not knowing when they will race again. Sunday’s planned showdown between the only two men to have gone under two hours, two minutes for the classic distance was an early victim of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more