BIGDREAM

FILES) This file handout illustration image obtained February 3, 2020, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Lizabeth MENZIES / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / AFP From a mother unable to smell her baby’s nappy to a lawmaker who suddenly could not taste food, some coronavirus patients have described a loss of olfactory senses — and experts say this might be a new way to detect the virus. Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists in Britain, the United States and France have noted a growing number of patients in recent weeks with anosmia — the abrupt loss of smell — and have said this could be a sign of COVID-19 in people who otherwise appear well. Official figures suggest the coronavirus has infected some 380,000 people as the pandemic proliferates around the world, but with many cases going undetec

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, the International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday. The Games were scheduled for July 24-August 9, but after telephone discussions between IOC president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a historic joint decision was taken for the first postponement of an Olympics in peacetime. Abe had earlier said Bach was in “100 percent agreement” when Japan asked the IOC to push back the Games. The IOC had come under pressure in recent days to postpone the world’s biggest sporting event, with teams, athletes and sports bodies all calling for a delay. The postponement comes after top federations announced they would pull out of the Tokyo Games, the highest-profile event to be affected by a virus that has decimated the sporting calendar. Around 1.7 billion people across the world are in lockdown to prevent the further spread of a

A member of the Syrian Civil Defence known as the “White Helmets” disinfects a hospital room, as part of preventive measures taken against infections by the novel coronavirus, in the Syrian town of Dana, east of the Turkish-Syrian border in the northwestern Idlib province, on March 22, 2020. AAREF WATAD / AFP Another 514 people have died in Spain over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 2,696, as the number of infections surged towards 40,000, the government said Tuesday.  As the health authorities step up the number of tests, the number of people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 rose by nearly 20 percent to 39,673, the health ministry said. At the same time, the death toll showed an increase of 23.5 percent over the figures from Monday. The new figures came as the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was to seek parliamentary approval to extend the state of emergency for an extra two weeks, until April 11, in a bid to slow the spread of the virus. Offic

A file photo of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari, during a meeting of the Federal Executive Council held at the State House in Abuja. An unconfirmed report says the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari, may have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). However, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, is expected to clarify the controversy surrounding the report at a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. Details later…

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has placed a ban on the public gathering of more than 30 people and ordered all public and private schools in the state to be closed until after the Easter celebration. The governor gave this directive in a public address on Monday following the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in the state. He also announced the postponement of scheduled events including the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Summit and the Agribusiness Summit in the state. “I am obligated to place a ban on gatherings such as religious services, weddings, parties, burial ceremonies and so on, gatherings should be limited to 30 persons or less. Nightclubs will have to remain closed. These measures will be reviewed in two weeks. “I have already directed that all public and private schools in Oyo State should be closed until after Easter. The ongoing workers’ verification exercise has been suspended. The Free Health Mission has also been suspended. “All returning exp

More than 200,000 coronavirus cases have been declared in Europe, with Italy’s 63,927 infections and Spain’s 39,673 accounting for more than half of the total, according to an AFP tally on Tuesday. With at least 200,009 cases, including 10,732 deaths, Europe is the continent worst hit by the pandemic, ahead of Asia with 98,748 cases and 3,570 deaths. The first outbreak was in China in December. The official figures reflect only a fraction of the total cases as many countries only test for the disease when people are hospitalised.

The health agency explained that one of the cases was a returning traveller while the second case was a contact of a previously confirmed case. It stressed that as of 1:00pm on March 24 in Nigeria, there are 42 confirmed cases of COVID-19

A file photo of the CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad. The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended all court proceedings across the country as part of the measures to protect the nation’s judicial institutions from coronavirus. According to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, the move is to take effect from Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Justice Muhammad, who is also NJC Chairman, directed all heads of courts to ensure compliance for an initial period of two weeks. In a statement posted on NJC website on Monday, the CJN asked courts to only entertain Despite the suspension however, court will only entertain “matters that are urgent, essential or time bound according to the nation’s extant laws.” Justice Muhammad also directed all federal judicial bodies to continue working while ensuring that members of the public coming for official matters. Similarly, meetings and conferences are expected not to exceed the recommended number of 50

A file photo of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. In furtherance of the commitment of the Rivers State Government to protect residents of the state, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Monday announced that beginning Tuesday, March 24, 2020, all public parks, night clubs and cinemas will remain closed till further notice. In a State Broadcast on Monday, Governor Wike directed religious groups to temporarily stop all forms of open worship. He said:  “with effect from the same date(Tuesday, March 24, 2020), all public parks, night clubs and cinemas in the State are to remain closed till further notice. “Similarly, after due consultations with religious leaders, it was agreed that all religious organisations are to temporarily stop all forms of open worship . Public burial and wedding ceremonies are also banned within this period. “In view of the fact that the disease spreads fast through body contact, social distance has become imperative if we are to contain the spread. “May

Late Senator Rose Oko By Henry Umoru CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Senator Rose Oko, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Cross River North is dead. Senator Oko, who died last night at a UK medical facility, was aged 63. The late Senator, who was one of the female lawmakers at the Hallowed Chamber, was elected into office as the first female Senator from her Senatorial District in June 2015 in the 8th Senate and was re-elected in 2019. Senator Oko’s death came after the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Ignatius  Datong Longjan , All Progressives Congress, APC, Plateau South died on Sunday, February 10, 2020, at a Turkish hospital in Abuja. Also recall that prior to the death of Longjan, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator  Benjamin Uwajumogu , All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo South died December 18, 2019. A close aide of late Senator Rose Oko, who confirmed the death, however, express

Boss Mustapha By Omeiza Ajayi As the battle to contain the deadly Coronavirus rages, the Federal Government has suspended its weekly Federal Executive Council FEC meetings as well as the proposed Council of State meeting earlier slated for March 26, 2020. This was as the government announced the total closure of all land borders that were hitherto partially closed. Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Pandemic, Mr Boss Mustapha who announced these on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja added that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been mandated to announce measures approved by the Federal Government to protect the civil servants. According to him, the Presidential Task Force PTF continues to monitor global and domestic developments and has isolated Lagos and Abuja for particular attention in view of their population, mobility and number of cases already reported. Speaking on the measures ta

Wuhan, the capital of China’s central Hubei province, is the site of an outbreak caused by an unknown pathogen that’s sickened 59 people so far. AFP via Getty Images People in Central China where the coronavirus was first detected are allowed to go back to work and public transport is restarting, as some normality slowly returns after a two-month lockdown. The easing of restrictions in Wuhan city comes as Chinese health officials reported Monday no new local cases of the deadly virus but confirmed another 39 infections brought from overseas. Wuhan residents considered healthy can move around the city and take the bus or metro so long as they show ID, officials said. They can also go back to work if they have a permit from their employer, and leave the city for other parts of the surrounding Hubei province after being tested for the virus and receiving a health certificate. The virus, which emerged in a market that sold wild animals in December, sparked a dramatic lockdown of

Australia’s last active sport, the A-League soccer, pulled the plug on its season Tuesday to curb the spread of coronavirus, with bosses saying it had become “mission impossible”. The decision follows the National Rugby League and the country’s most popular spectator sport, Aussie Rules, making similar decisions over the past two days. Rugby union, cricket, basketball and other sports had already shut down. The 11-team A-League, which played to empty stadiums last weekend, only had five rounds left to complete the season. But tightened government restrictions, including state border shutdowns, made it too difficult to continue. “The decision taken was the result of the increased state and national requirements, in particular border controls that the states, and New Zealand have implemented,” said Football Federation Australia chief James Johnson. “As a national competition that is played in almost all parts of Australia, also in New Zealand, mission complicated became m

Kindly Share This Story:  Four new cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Nigeria. 3 are in Lagos State and 1 in FCT Two of these cases according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC are returning travellers. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Health personnel evacuate FIRS staff who tested positive in Abuja “As at 11:00pm on the 23rd of March, there are 40 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria. 2 have been discharged with 1 death recorded” Vanguard Nigeria News