COVID-19 – NAN Archive

Apr, Thu, 2020

Sport

Decision on July’s rugby internationals to be made later this month

Internationals
Cape Town, April 2, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) The fate of planned mid-year rugby union internationals, including a homecoming game for 2020 World Cup winners South Africa, will be decided this month, officials in several countries said on Thursday.

However, indications are that they will be called off.

Discussions on scheduled tours by France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales to the southern hemisphere in July, and England’s trip to Japan at the same time, were held on Wednesday.

This was when World Rugby’s executive committee met by video conference.

But any decision on the fate of the tours was left to later in April, several sources told Reuters.

World Rugby, the sport’s governing body, has not issued any statement on the meeting however.

But its chief executive Brett Gosper had earlier this week said the tours were unlikely to go ahead.

“The problem is that no union wants to make the decision to cancel its tour, not least because there are, among other things, insurance contract implications,” he told the French daily L’Equipe.

“Participants are waiting for government decisions and directives.

“That said, all unions, from the north as well as from the south, know that it is unlikely that these tours will take place.”

The Springboks are due to play against Scotland in Cape Town on July 4 in their first game since November’s World Cup victory.

This will be followed by another test against the Scots one week later, and then a fixture with Georgia.

England and Wales are scheduled to tour Japan, with Wales then going on to face two tests in New Zealand.

Scotland are due to travel to New Zealand after their two tests in South Africa, while Ireland had two internationals in Australia.

Italy were to visit Argentina after their hosts had played against France in two July tests.

Officials said the executive committee had taken note of the financial implications for the host unions and raised possible alternative plans but held off on any firm decisions.

Bernard Laporte, the French Rugby Federation president who sits on the executive, had previously suggested tours scheduled for July could be moved to November.

But this is unlikely given the financial boost that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa also derive from their end of year visits to the northern hemisphere, officials added.

South Africa have already lined up four tests in Europe in November.

The All Blacks will face England at Twickenham on Nov. 7 in a match that is usually a lucrative sell-out.

Australia have laid off staff and cut pay as they warn of an impending financial crisis brought on by the effects of the coronavirus shutdown.

They are scheduled to take on Ireland, France, Italy and England in November.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Olawale Alabi)

Apr, Thu, 2020

General news

Gombe commissioner urges husbands to sensitise women, children on COVID-19

Women
By Ibrahim Kado
Gombe, April 2, 2020 (NAN) Mrs Naomi Awak, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Gombe, has appealed to husbands to fully sensitise women and children on the dangers of Coronavirus.

Awak made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Thursday.

She said women were the ones close to the children and it was important for them to be fully educated on the virus for them to guide the children against its possible spread.

“If women understand the dangers of the virus and the professional advice against the spread of the virus, they will easily guide the children properly.

“Not only the women, children should observe protective measures such as maintaining social distancing and personal hygiene which have been proven to be effective in the control of the dreaded virus,’’ Awak said.

According to her, is also good for the children to stay at home to halt possible spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state.

The commissioner said the state government had taken proactive measures against the spread of the virus, hence the need for people to comply and continue with prayers (NAN)
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Adeleye Ajayi

Apr, Wed, 2020

Sport

Woods, Mickelson to play coronavirus relief golf match with American football stars

Match
New York, April 1, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will play a coronavirus relief golf match next month with Super Bowl-winning quarter-backs Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, according to a report on Wednesday.

The report, which sourced an unnamed person familiar with the negotiations, said the charity match would be held at an undisclosed location without fans.

It is being organised by the PGA Tour and AT&T’s WarnerMedia.

The negotiations are still being finalised but the match pitting 15-times major champion Woods and Manning against five-times major winner Mickelson and Brady could be aired on live TV.

The report said further that the match is unlikely to be featured on pay-per-view.

“Discussions along these lines have been ongoing for quite some time, but nothing has been approved by the tour,” the PGA Tour said in a statement.

A match-up featuring two of the most famous golfers of their era and two of the all-time greatest NFL quarter-backs would be a rare sports event during the coronavirus pandemic.

Already, the pandemic has brought the sports world to a halt.

The event will feature a small production crew to film it and each individual will obey the social-distancing recommendations to stay six-feet apart, the report said.

Mickelson was asked recently on Twitter about the chances of a round of golf against Woods being live streamed in the near future, and the American replied: “Working on it”.

When another fan tweeted to Mickelson asking him not to “tease”, the 49-year-old responded: “I don’t tease. I’m kinda a sure thing”.

Woods, 44, last competed in mid-February and then withdrew from a number of tournaments with a back injury.

That was before the PGA Tour decided to cancel a slew of events because of the coronavirus.

Mickelson finished third in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in early February and missed the cut in his next two starts.

Woods and Mickelson played against each other in a winner-takes-all nine million dollars matchplay exhibition in November 2018 that was golf’s first venture into pay-per-view.

That event was hyped like a Las Vegas prize fight but proved more of a pillow fight with both golfers in jovial mood.

They were playing for a purse that was put up by sponsors and went to a charity of Mickelson’s choice.

Brady recently joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 years with the New England Patriots during which he won an NFL-record six Super Bowl titles.

Manning, who played for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, retired in 2016 as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns and yards.

He is the only five-times winner of the league’s Most Valuable Player award.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Apr, Wed, 2020

Sport

Wimbledon 2020 cancelled, first time since World War II

Cancellation
London, April 1, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) The Wimbledon championships were cancelled for the first time since World War Two on Wednesday as the coronavirus pandemic struck another blue-riband sports event off the calendar.

The development meant a wipe-out of the entire tennis grasscourt season.

The decision had looked inevitable for some time, since the virtual shutdown of world sports and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.

But Wimbledon had been one of the few events not to have been officially cancelled or postponed.

However, after emergency talks between the various stakeholders over the last few days, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) made its announcement.

It said it was impossible for the grasscourt Grand Slam, scheduled for June 29 to July 12, to take place.

“It is with great regret that the main board … have today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic,” the AELTC said in a statement.

“The 134th Championships will instead be staged from June 28 to July 11, 2021.”

Following the cancellation of the grasscourt major, and with the pandemic worsening in Europe and the U.S, the men’s ATP Tour, women’s WTA Tour and the International Tennis Federation extended the suspension of professional tennis for another five weeks to July 13.

“At this time, tournaments taking place from July 13, 2020 onwards are still planning to proceed as per the published schedule,” said a joint statement from the governing bodies.

Britain’s death toll from the virus reached 2,352 on Wednesday, according to NHS figures.

The French Open, originally due to be held from May 24 to June 7 was postponed.

It was controversially rescheduled by the French tennis federation for Sept. 20 to Oct. 4, shortly after the end of the U.S. Open.

The U.S. Open organisers said they were continuing with their plans to host the hardcourt Grand Slam in New York as scheduled from Aug. 31 to Sept. 14.

Players across the tennis fraternity have since reacted with shock and sadness at the cancellation of Wimbledon.

Roger Federer, whose record haul of 20 Grand Slam titles includes eight Wimbledon trophies, said he was “devastated”.

“There is no gif for these things that I am feeling,” he added.

In a statement from the organisers of the Halle Open, which was also cancelled, Federer said: “We are going through difficult times but we will emerge stronger.

“I already look forward to returning to Halle next year. Stay healthy.”

Former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo did not think either the U.S. Open or the French Open would go ahead this year.

“I think we’re going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season,” Mauresmo said on Twitter this week.

“International circuit = players of all nationalities plus management, spectators and people from the 4 corners of the world who bring these events to life. No vaccine = no tennis.”

Unlike the French Open which is played on clay, Wimbledon’s scope for re-arranging the start date was extremely limited.

While Centre Court and Court One boast a roof, playing elite level tennis outside on grass would have been extremely challenging in late summer or autumn.

There is a lack of light and there are problems caused by dew forming on the surface late in the day.

Shortening the format of the tournament, or playing behind closed doors, would also have proved extremely unpopular with the players.

“While in some ways this has been a challenging decision, we strongly believe it is not only in the best interests of society at this time, but also provides certainty to our colleagues in international tennis.

“This is in the face of the impact on the grass court events in the UK and in Europe and the broader tennis calendar,” AELTC Chief Executive Richard Lewis said.

Tickets-holders will be offered the chance to purchase tickets for the same day and court for 2021 championships.

They will also be issued with a refund for this year’s event, organisers added.

Wimbledon had been held every year since 1946 after a six-year hiatus because the country was at war.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Apr, Wed, 2020

Sport

Cagliari president says club staff have agreed to go without one month’s wages

Wages
Rome, April 1, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Players and staff at Serie A clubside Cagliari have agreed to go without pay for one month, its president Tommaso Giulini has said.

Giulini said the development was aimed at helping the Sardinian club get through the stoppage caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Serie A, like several football leagues around the world, has been brought to a standstill.

There is no indication of when it may be able to start again, although the Italian federation says it wants to finish the season.

“I notice a great sense of responsibility, all our employees and not just the players have already given up a month’s pay.

“It was a gesture of great responsibility that allows us to limit the losses. If the championship doesn’t start again we’ll see what to do for the next few months.

“For now, we can only thank those who made this gesture,” Giulini said in an interview with the Sardinian television station Videolina on Wednesday.

On Saturday, Italian champions Juventus said their players had agreed to accept reduced wages from March to June to help the Turin club through the crisis.

Inter Milan were also reported by Italian media to be close to agreeing a wage cut with their players.

Some clubs such as Fiorentina and Torino have already said they think the season will have to be abandoned.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Apr, Wed, 2020

General news

UNICEF sensitises communities on hygiene, sanitation to fight COVID-19

Sensitisation

By Rabiu Sani

Kano, April 1, 2020 (NAN) United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) says it has embarked on community awareness creation activities to promote good personal hygiene habits to prevent spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Maulid Warfa, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Kano, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kano.

Warfa, who is the UNICEF Officer in charge of Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States, said the UN agency was working in collaboration with Federal and State Governments to enhance fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

He said the agency had sensitised and mobilised facilitators and community volunteers to educate the people on the dangers and preventive tips of the virus.

Warfa said: “UNICEF in Nigeria is working with the government, we have a team that has been supporting the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 pandemic in Abuja. We in Kano and other eight field offices are supporting the efforts of the states.

“I am grateful that in Kano, the Kano state government has already activated a task force on the pandemic and UNICEF is a member of the committee against Coronavirus.

“In all aspects, peace communication, social mobilisation, making sure people have access to hand washing facilities, sending accurate messages and also working with the state ministry of health, supporting the efforts is one of the key aspects we are working on in the past few weeks.

“Today, we have training for the UNICEF State Facilitators discussing the smartest and innovative ways to speed up peace communication process.

“We also have large numbers of Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCMs) in communities, Local Government Areas (LGAs) facilitators and other community platforms that are supporting malnutrition.

“Now we are using the same mechanism to get the message out to alert communities; mothers, fathers, children and the youths to understand the severity of the situation and to do the right thing to keep themselves and families safe.

“The message is very clear, we are saying wash your hands with soap and running water anytime you get contact with any object, do not touch your mouth and nose unless you wash your hands.

“Keep distance because social distancing is one key mechanism to prevent spread of the virus,” he said.

According to him, UNCEF is also working in collaboration with federal and state governments to mitigate the effects of the pandemic in areas of education, malnutrition, water and sanitation, among others.

He lauded the efforts of the Federal and Kano state governments to prevent spread of the virus and urged people to adhere to medical advice, practice hand washing and observe social distancing. (NAN)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Maharazu Ahmed

Apr, Wed, 2020

Defence/Security

UN announces COVID-19 response in North East

Prevention

By Rabiu Sani

Kano, April 1, 2020 (NAN) UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), says it has scaled up emergency response measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in northeast.

Mr Edward Kallon, UN Humanitarian Coordinator, disclosed this in a statement by Eve Sabbagh, Head of Public Information, UN-OCHA, on Wednesday in Kano.

Kallon said that proactive measures were necessary to protect displaced persons affected by the decade-long conflict in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

He warned that the humanitarian crisis from the pandemic could be high should it spread to the northeast because of the prevailing security challenges.

He said: “We will not wait for COVID-19 to reach camps for IDPs before we act.

“They have already suffered enough from the decade-long conflict and our priority is to ensure the continuous delivery of life-saving assistance especially health services to the most vulnerable women, children and the elderly who need special attention”.

According to him, it is crucial for vulnerable IDPs to have access to water, soap, shelter, food, education and protection.

Kallon said the UN, in collaboration with humanitarian partners, was supporting state governments, State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in developing emergency response plans in recognition of reality of the living conditions in host communities and IDP camps.

He explained that the plan include specific mitigation measures in overcrowded camps and camp-like settings where the risk of disease outbreak is higher.

The UN official added that key activities were being implemented jointly in the IDP camps, guided by global guidance on COVID-19 Outbreak Preparedness and Response.

“Humanitarian partners are installing hand-washing stations in IDP camps and ensuring supply of clean water. Partners are also distributing soap and teaching women how to produce their own.

“The UN is also planning to bring in vital health equipment and tools to prevent and treat the respiratory virus, which is now affecting over 12 states across Nigeria, with 131 total cases recorded as of March 31.

“UN has developed awareness raising and prevention messages, leaflets, posters, animations and videos specific for IDPs and other vulnerable people in the northeast. In partnership with major TV and radio channels, it has launched sensitization campaigns across various states, reaching millions of Nigerians.

“The UN is also launching a survey tool with the Network of People Living with HIV (NEPWHAN) to gather specific and arising challenges for people living with HIV on continuous access to quality treatment, care and support in the midst of the response to the outbreak of COVID-19,” Kallon said. (NAN)

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Mar, Mon, 2020

Health

Gombe Govt. procures PCR machine to detect COVID-19

Test

By Ibrahim Kado

Gombe, March 30, 2020 (NAN) Gombe State Government says it has ordered for the supply of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Machine to enhance testing for suspected cases of Coronavirus.

Prof. Idris Mohammed, Chairman Task Force committee on Coronavirus, made the disclosure during an advocacy visit to the Emir of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar, on Monday in Gombe.

According to him, there is no single machine in the region and for any suspected case; samples has to be referred to Abuja, Enugu or Lagos for laboratory analysis.

Mohammed said: “We have ordered for the supply of machines for testing the suspected case for the state own centre and it will be available in the next two weeks”.

He said the aim of the advocacy was to solicit the support of the traditional rulers across the state to sensitise the public on the dangers and precautionary measures against the virus.

Mohammed called on the traditional rulers to sensitise people on the dangers of the pandemic and the need to adhere to professional advice on ways to prevent or control it.

“People should observe protective measures such as maintaining social distancing and personal hygiene which have been proven to be effective in the control of the dreaded virus.

“Such precautionary measures become necessary in order to halt the possible spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the state,” he said.

According to him, so far there is no confirmed case in the state, adding that the committee had designated three isolation centres in the state.

Also speaking, Abubakar, assured to join hands with Government in the sensitisation campaign and to continue with prayers to stop the spread of the virus.

Abubakar said the sensitisation is the responsibility of every one as the virus had no direction and it may affect any person irrespective of any differences.

He lauded Gov. Inuwa Yahaya for taking proactive measures against the spread of virus. (NAN)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Rabiu Sani Ali
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Mar, Sun, 2020

General news

COVID-19: Gov. Wike commends Christians for complying with directives

Compliance

Dianabasi Effiong

Port Harcourt, March 29, 2020 (NAN) Christian Faithful across Rivers have been commended for complying with the directive of maintaining social distance during Church service to check the spread of Coronavirus.

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers made the commendation on Sunday in Port Harcourt while addressing journalists after he led the Task Force on Enforcement of the Ban on Public and Religious Gatherings to monitor compliance.

Wike said that the churches ensured that each service had about 50 worshippers as agreed during the meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The governor, accompanied by the Service Commanders, monitored compliance at the St. Thomas Anglican Church, Mile Two Diobu and St. John’s Anglican Church, Rumueme Deanery.

They also visited St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom Deanery, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Rumuapara District and Abundant Life Evangel Mission Cathedral.

The team also monitored compliance at the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Rumuobiokani, St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim and Mount of Grace, Elekahia.

They visited St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Elekahia Archdeaconry and Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu, Corpus Christi, Living Faith Church, Kaduna Street, D-Line and Churches on Aggrey Road.

All the churches visited had running water, soap and hand sanitisers to disinfect worshipers before and after service.

Wike said: “The compliance is very much appreciated, except for two churches that did not completely comply. Saint Thomas Anglican Church and Holy Trinity, Rumuapara.

“I have told the pastors that I don’t want to shut down the two churches. In all, we are satisfied with the total compliance.

“That shows that the people appreciate what we are talking about. For us, the safety of our people remains key. We are happy today.

“For the two churches that failed to comply, we will review the situation and take action. As you can see, we went to different churches.’’ (NAN)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Mar, Sun, 2020

General news

Anambra govt. trains senior health officials on handling of COVID-19

COVID-19
By Francis Onyeukwu
Awka, March 29, 2020 (NAN) Anambra Government has organised special training for senior health officials on the basic procedures for the handling of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emergency.

Dr Onyeka Ibezim, the Managing Director of Anambra State Oxygen Production Plant and Special Adviser to the Governor on Indigenous Medicine, was the Chief Facilitator of the exercise held in Awka on Sunday.

The training was aimed at getting the officers prepared ahead of any possible identification of coronavirus case with a view of ensuring the officials remain safe while doing the job.

Ibezim said that with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, it was imperative for states to train front line health officers who were in regular touch with the communities on how to use oxygen and other medical equipment.

He noted that oxygen was a critical equipment for the treatment of victims of any respiratory ailment, saying that health officials must be properly equipped on its usage.

Ibezim commended the foresight of Gov. Willie Obiano in establishing the Oxygen plant at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku-Awka.

He said though the state was not wishing that it record any case of the coronavirus but having an oxygen plant in place was a huge asset to the state.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, said in the course of Lassa fever outbreak, Anambra developed a procedure which was adjudged very comprehensive by experts.

He urged the participants to replicate the same procedure in the event of any case of the coronavirus in the area.

“You have been told what to do when a patient arrives the facility. Whether or not he has fever, cough or shortness of breath?

“If any reported case has prevailed for a period of 14 days? If the patient returned from any country worst hit by the pandemic? And whether he has been in contact with a facility where COVID-19 case was treated?

“If answers to these were in the affirmative, you are advised to put the patient in a separate room with a face mask and get in touch with the experts,’’ Okpala told the participants.

The commissioner noted that the essence of the exercise was to boost the confidence of the personnel and allay their anxiety and ensure that they could provide basic care before experts’ care were deployed.

Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Care Development Agency, highlighted the role of healthcare workers in COVID-19 case management.

She stressed the need for safety and adequate care for both the patient and the health officers.

The participants were enlightened on the basic uses and limitations of medical Oxygen with a view to ensuring proper procedure.

Aside the heads of health departments from the 21 Local Government Areas, other participants at the training include: Directors of Primary Health Care and Officers in Charge of Primary Health Care Centres in the council areas.

Others were: State Health Educators, State Epidemiologists, the Director, Disease Control and Immunisation and top officials of Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency. (NAN)
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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

NAN Archive

Tag COVID-19