COVID-19: President Buhari, Others Isolate After UK Trip

President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his entourage to the United Kingdom went into self-isolation in compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines, after spending two weeks in London. Mr President and others arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport about 18:15 pm on Friday. The senior Special Assistant to Mr President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu confirmed the development on Sunday. They include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno (rtd) and Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Abubakar. There are unconfirmed reports that President Buhari was seen in close contact with some officials of the Nigeria High Commission in London who have tested positive for coronavirus. The Nigerian High Commission in London has since been shut down on Thursday, to observe the mandatory ten days isolation of those who were in contact with the affected officials.

BREAKING: Cholera Death Toll Rises To 60 In Abuja

The Federal Capital Development Authorities (FCDA) has disclosed that fatalities from cholera outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have risen to 60. FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, confirmed the death toll at the continuation of community sensitisation on cholera and other severe acute diarrhea diseases outbreaks in Pyakasa and Gwagwa communities in the nation’s capital. She also revealed that suspected cases have risen from 604 to 698 within the last 72 hours. Represented by Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, the acting Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, the minister said that Abaji Area Council also recorded three suspected cases with no death.

BREAKING: FG Revisits COVID-19 Restrictions, Returns Curfew

The Federal Government has re-introduced a nationwide 12am to 4am curfew as part of efforts to curtail the further spread of COVID-19. The National Incident Manager and Head of Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Steering Committee, Mukhtar Mohammed, disclosed this at a press briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 in Abuja. According to Mohammed, the curfew would take effect from midnight on Monday, May 10. He also informed that with effect from Tuesday, night clubs, gyms, and others would remain closed till further notice.

China Donates 470,000 Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccines To Nigeria

The Chinese Government on Friday donated 470,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Nigeria, in a bid to boost the efforts to immunize Nigerians against the deadly COVID-19 virus. The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, made the donation to the Nigerian Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja. According to Jianchun, the gesture was a result of the good relationship between Nigeria and China. Jianchun noted that the efforts to eliminate the COVID-19 pandemic require worldwide collaborations. The Chinese Ambassador warned against politicizing issues surrounding COVID-19 or blaming China for the outbreak, rather than collaboration should be worked out on ways to eliminate the disease.

COVID-19: WHO Declares New Variant As Highly Transmissible, Another Nigerian Losses Battle To The Pandemic

World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Delta Variant of COVID-19 as the most transmissible mutation to date. Director-General, WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus disclosed that delta co had been identified in at least 85 countries and is “spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations”. “As some countries ease public health and social measures, we are starting to see increases in transmission around the world,” he said.

Resident Doctors Commence Indefinite Strike

Despite last-minute efforts by the Nigerian Government Members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Thursday commenced a nationwide indefinite strike. NARD President, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, announced the commencement of the industrial action during an interview on Sunrise Daily – a breakfast programme on Channels Television. “The strike commenced 8 am this morning, and we enjoin all resident doctors to start the strike immediately,” he said. The resident doctors, in a tweet on Thursday, said the strike was not intended to hurt the public.