BIGDREAM

Authorities in Gaza on Sunday confirmed the first two cases of novel coronavirus, identifying them as Palestinians who had travelled to Pakistan and were being held in quarantine since their return. The United Nations has warned that a COVID-19 outbreak in Gaza could be disastrous, given the high poverty rates and weak health system in the coastal strip under Israeli blockade since 2007. Following the confirmed cases, a World Health Organization (WHO) delegation arrived in Gaza to assess the situation, a Palestinian security source said. Gaza’s health ministry said the two people who tested positive had been held in quarantine since their return from Pakistan on Thursday and had not interacted with the wider population. “These two cases were recorded among those who returned to Gaza … (and) did not mix with the residents of the Gaza Strip,” deputy health minister Yousef Abu Al-Reesh told reporters. The sick, identified as two men, were in stable condition, the health mini

The head of the World Health Organization believes China’s battle with the coronavirus offers a beacon of hope, but others question whether Beijing’s strategy can be followed by other countries — particularly Western democracies. China has reported only one new local infection over the past four days, a seemingly remarkable turnaround given the chaos that surrounded the initial outbreak in the city of Wuhan. While some experts caution against accepting Beijing’s figures at face value, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted China’s success “provides hope for the rest of the world”. But China is a particular case — a centrally-controlled, top-down, one-party authoritarian state that allows no dissent and can mobilise vast resources on a single issue. – Close down and contain – In January, China effectively shut down Wuhan and placed its 11 million residents in effective quarantine — a move it then replicated in the rest of Hubei province, putting 50 million people in

Gatherings of more than two people will be banned in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday, as Europe’s biggest economy toughened restrictions to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Germany has already closed down schools, non-essential shops and urged people not to gather in groups but has not yet imposed blanket limits on group gatherings. “Our own behaviour is the most effective way” of slowing the rate of infection, Merkel said of the unprecedented nationwide measures, which are initially slated to remain in force for two weeks. The measures will be imposed by individual states, who will decide when to roll them out. Some exceptions to the public gathering rule will be allowed, including for families living under the same roof and going out together for fresh air. On top of the ban on gatherings, businesses like massage studios and hairdressers where people come into close contact will be shut. And restaurants will be closed across Germany except for t

Rand Paul, a critic of emergency coronavirus spending, has become the first US senator to test positive for COVID-19, the Republican lawmaker’s office said Sunday. A statement from a staff member said he was in quarantine but remained asymptomatic. As US senators work on a multi-trillion-dollar rescue package to help the US economy hit hard by the pandemic, Paul has at least twice voted against such emergency funding. Paul, who is 57, is the third member of Congress known to have contracted the virus. Two members of the House of Representatives — Ben McAdams of Utah and Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida — earlier announced positive tests. Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky, “is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events,” said the statement from his staff. It said Paul was not aware of any direct contact with an infected person. It added that the senator’s Washington office had

Despite restrictions placed on social gatherings and worship centres by the Kaduna state government, in a bid to avoid endangering lives, Christians in the Kaduna capital defied the advice and went out in droves to various churches for the usual Sunday service and other religious activities. Though defying the ban, some worship centres tried to put certain measures in place, to ensure a clean and conducive environment for service. READ ALSO:  Abuja Records One New Case Of Coronavirus, Bringing Total Number To 27 These churches provided hand sanitizers and water at their entrances, subjecting worshipers to wash their hands and apply sanitizers before entering for worship. One of such churches is the Saint Joseph Catholic Cathedral in the Kaduna state capital, where a usual large turn out of worshippers was experienced. The catholic church held its normal two Sunday services, in total defiance to the advice for people to maintain social distancing and avoid large ga

The Kwara State Government has ordered the closure of all public and private nursery, primary, secondary schools and state-owned tertiary institutions as part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease. The government has also banned all gatherings of more than 25 people. Apart from the Ministry of Health and other essential workers, all civil servants are expected to work from home. This was contained in a statement signed by the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Sunday. Although the state has no confirmed case of the COVID-19, it says it is taking the proactive measures to avoid any future incidents, while noting that they are embarking on a healthcare transformation agenda to give residents access to better quality and affordable healthcare. Read the full statement below. Statement by His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State on COVID-19 pandemic Dear Kwarans: The welfare, security and well-being of all Kwarans are of utm

Gunmen have attacked Galkogo and Zumba villages in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, reportedly killing one mobile police officer, shooting three military men and several other persons. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attacks to Channels Television in a telephone conversation on Sunday. According to him, the armed men attacked the communities riding on more than 50 motorcycles in an operation that lasted for over two hours. According to locals, apart from the security officials who were attacked, a little girl was shot on her stomach and another man was shot on the thigh, while some members of the communities have been abducted. The senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sani Musa, who forwarded some video clips to Channels Television, said he was disturbed by the security situation in his constituency, particularly in Shiroro, Munya, Rafi and Paikoro local

The International Olympic Committee said Sunday that postponing the 2020 Olympics is one of its options as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, but that cancellation of the Tokyo showpiece was “not on the agenda”. The IOC has faced strong pressure to push back the Games, scheduled from July 24 to August 9, from sporting federations and athletes worried about the health risk as the COVID-19 global death tally went past 13,000 on Sunday. IOC president Thomas Bach said a decision on when the Games take place would be made “within the next four weeks”. “Human lives take precedence over everything, including the staging of the Games,” Bach wrote in an open letter to athletes. “We have, as indicated before, been thinking in different scenarios and are adapting them almost day by day.” But, he added that “there are significant improvements in Japan” and he still had hopes the Games could be held on schedule, even if that would present logistical difficulties. “A f

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says his son has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Abubakar disclosed this in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle on Sunday night. He did not mention the name of which of his sons was infected but revealed that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has been duly informed about the situation and that his son had been moved to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital in Abuja for treatment. Abubakar, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 Presidential elections called for prayers for his son and urged Nigerians to stay safe. “Coronavirus is real,” he warned. Atiku Abubakar ✔ @atiku My son has tested positive to coronavirus. @ NCDCGov has been duly informed, and he has been moved to Gwagwalada Specialist Teaching Hospital in Abuja for treatment and management. I will appreciate it if you have him in your prayers. Stay safe, coronavirus is real. -AA