FG to use hotels, schools as isolation centres

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government would require hotels and school dormitories as quarantine and isolation centres because of shortage of hospital beds.

He stated this on Thursday during the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.

The minister noted that there were four levels of COVID-19 patients ranging from those on quarantine with zero or mild symptoms to those that would need to be in an intensive care unit.

COVID-19: Don’t Put Masks on Babies and Toddlers - Doctors Warn

Children under the age of two shouldn’t wear masks because they can make breathing difficult and increase the risk of choking, a Japan medical group said, launching an urgent appeal to parents as the country reopens from the Coronavirus crisis.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted a state of emergency for Tokyo and four remaining areas on Monday after the number of infections fell across Japan, but warned that it could be reimposed if the virus started spreading again.

To prevent the virus spread, health experts worldwide are recommending people wear masks when it is difficult to maintain social distancing as countries loosen restrictions following Coronavirus shutdowns.

Leak official document and be fired, FG warns civil servants

Federal Government has on Tuesday warned Civil Servants to desist from leaking official documents, noting that anyone caught in the act would be sacked. 

This was contained in a circular signed by Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of Service of the Federation.  Folasade warned that anyone caught will be dealt with.

Recall that the April 28 speech of President Muhammadu Buhari on COVID-19 was leaked minutes before the president’s live broadcast. Presidency was embarrassed by that unfortunate act.

Minister donates May salary to secure release of five inmates

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has forfeited her May, 2020 salary to secure the immediate release of five inmates who could not pay for their fines at the Kuje Correctional Service.

She made the donation while felicitating with the inmates as part of activities to celebrate this year’s Eid al-Fitr.

Aliyu in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Austine Elemue, on Tuesday in Abuja said the donation would further go a long way to decongest the Correctional Service already overcrowded with inmates in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

She assured the inmates that the FCT administration would take further legal steps to see to the decongestion of the Kuje correctional service.

Dangote-promised isolation centre yet to take off as Kano COVID-19 cases hit 900

Over a month after Dangote Foundation announced the donation of a 300-capacity isolation centre for the management of COVID-19 patients in Kano, the facility is yet to be handed over to the state government for use.

The state as at Tuesday has 919 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 134 recoveries and a death toll of 38.

Spokesperson of Kano health ministry, Hadiza Namani confirmed that construction work was ongoing at the facility, adding that no single COVID-19 patient has been admitted in the isolation centre.

Business mogul and chairman Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, donated isolation facility as part of his contribution to the fight against coronavirus pandemic in the state.

COVID-19: LUTH Volunteers did not shut operations — Medical Advisory Committee

Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba,  has refuted an online publication that its volunteers shut operations over their unpaid emoluments.

Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) made the refusal in an interview in Lagos on Tuesday.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all volunteers and LUTH workers working at our Isolation wards have not shut down operations and have no intention to do so.

“They are very much aware of the importance of the services they are rendering to the country, Lagos state, and humanity in general.

“They have been assured by the PTF on COVID-19, Minister of Health and LUTH Management that their emoluments will be paid in due course as promised by the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government delegation led by the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, (SAN) came to LUTH to deliver a solidarity message from President Muhammadu Buhari on May 23.

“The Minister along with the President of NMA and other HCW unions/associations assured the frontline workers, who were physically present at the briefing on the update on the payment of their allowances.

“This is the true situation of things at LUTH,” Adeyemo said.

He urged the media to be their partner in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic so that the war would be won together.

NAN

Vanguard

COVID-19: Lagos Govt gives update on reopening of schools

The Lagos State government has explained that it does not have the authority to unilaterally order the reopening of schools in the State.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo during an online programme, ‘Covinspiration show,’ moderated by a United Nations (UN) Youth Ambassador, Dayo Israel in Lagos, while giving scorecard of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration within the last one year.

Adefisayo disclosed that the State government was meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to draw up guidelines ahead of reopening of schools.

According to Adefisayo: “Like other sectors already approved by the Federal Government to reopen, the state government is meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to design guidelines that must be adopted before the schools will be reopened.

“We are watching the behaviour of the pandemic to see what happens next and we are working with the Federal government on the reopening of the schools in the country as soon as possible.

“This is not a decision that any state can unilaterally take on its own. If we are certain that the children are safe, we will reopen the schools for learning to resume.

“We are already working with the Federal Ministry of Education and they are working with National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on the guidelines that could be adopted when the need arises for the schools to reopen.

“After the protocol is completed and health officials assured us that the coast is clear, we will give the schools some days to adjust their premises in accordance with the guidelines on commencement of academic activities”.

Daily Post