Coronavirus Updates

Over 80 drone applications under review, training centre in pipeline — NCAA

Over 80 drone applications under review, training centre in pipeline — NCAA

Stories by Dickson Omobola Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has said it is in the process of approving a new aviation training facility for drone operators. NCAA’s Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Engineer Godwin Balang, said the agency has chosen to be methodical to ensure the facility met all operational benchmarks. Balang, who spoke at the […]
Visible Articles 5 10 15
Don’t be reckless, NMA cautions vaccinated persons

Don’t be reckless, NMA cautions vaccinated persons

The President, Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Innocent Ujah, has warned the public to be cautious, saying being vaccinated doesn’t mean they should be careless to risk COVID-19 infection. Ujah gave the advice during the 11th Annual Symposium of the Health Writers Association Of Nigeria (HEWAN) on Wednesday in Lagos. The symposium was themed; “Building Confidence […]

One million COVID-19 vaccine doses expire in Nigeria

One million COVID-19 vaccine doses expire in Nigeria

Not less than 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are estimated to have expired in the last one month in Nigeria without being used even as the Federal Government said that some of the donated vaccine doses had short residual shelf lives.

Nigeria confirms 3 additional cases of Omicron variant

Nigeria confirms 3 additional cases of Omicron variant

By Chioma Obinna The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Tuesday confirmed additional three more cases of COVID-19 with the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage, the Omicron variant, in Nigeria. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant detected in Nigeria to six . All the Omicron cases so far were detected […]

Most patients infected with Omicron COVID-19 variant get mild symptoms – Expert

Most patients infected with Omicron COVID-19 variant get mild symptoms – Expert

Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) said most patients infected with Omicron COVID-19 variant got mild symptoms, while the unvaccinated patients showed relatively severe symptoms. Angelique Cootze, who has treated 70 patients diagnosed with the new variant, said she had seen most patients with mild symptoms such as headaches, body aches and sore […]

N’Assembly will insist on prudent use of COVID-19 funds ― Lawan

N’Assembly will insist on prudent use of COVID-19 funds ― Lawan

By Henry Umoru The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has assured that the National Assembly will provide resources in 2022 budget for the battle against COVID-19 pandemic but will insist on prudence in the use of the funds. Speaking Monday in Abuja while declaring open a National Summit on COVID-19 with the theme: […]

COVID-19: Nigeria has enough vaccines to cover 70% of population by Dec 2022 ― FG

COVID-19: Nigeria has enough vaccines to cover 70% of population by Dec 2022 ― FG

By Omeiza Ajayi The Federal Government has boasted of enough COVID-19 vaccines to cover over 70 percent of its population by December 2022. Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee PSC on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha disclosed this Monday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day national summit […]

Vaccine Inequality: Only 3.% of Nigerians vaccinated against COVID — FG

Vaccine Inequality: Only 3.% of Nigerians vaccinated against COVID — FG

The Federal Government says only about three per cent of Nigeria’s population has been vaccinated against COVID-19 largely due to poor access to the vaccine by developing countries. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this in Madrid, Spain at the 24th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). […]

South-West NMA backs FG’s vaccination mandate for federal workers

South-West NMA backs FG’s vaccination mandate for federal workers

The South-West Caucus of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed support for the Federal Government’s  COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which required all workers in the Federal Civil Service to be inoculated. Its Secretary, Dr Bolaji Salako, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that currently available COVID-19 vaccines were safe, effective and would ensure the […]

44 people die of COVID-19 in Akwa Ibom – Official

44 people die of COVID-19 in Akwa Ibom – Official

Dr Dominic Ukpong, the Special Adviser on Heath Matters to Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, said 44 people had so far died of COVID-19 in the state. Ukpong made the disclosure at the maiden Eket Christmas Festival on Friday. “It is official that 44 people died in Akwa Ibom since COVID-19 started on April […]

Africa steps up Omicron variant detection as COVID-19 cases rise

Africa steps up Omicron variant detection as COVID-19 cases rise

African countries are stepping up measures to detect and control the spread of the Omicron variant. This became necessary as weekly new COVID-19 cases in the continent rose by 54 per cent due to an upsurge in southern Africa, said the World Health Organisation in a statement released on Thursday. According to  WHO, the Omicron […]

Number of COVID-19 infections in Africa rising sharply – Centre

Number of COVID-19 infections in Africa rising sharply – Centre

The number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in Africa is increasing rapidly against the backdrop of the discovery of the new Omicron variant, according to the Africa Centre for Infectious Diseases (Africa CDC). Earlier, 52,300 new cases were registered in the whole African continent, an increase of 105 per cent, compared to the previous week when […]

COVID-19: Omicron variant now in 23 countries ― WHO

COVID-19: Omicron variant now in 23 countries ― WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says cases of the new Omicron variant have been reported in at least 23 countries in five of the six WHO regions. WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed on Wednesday in Geneva and said that the number of cases was expected to grow. “WHO takes this development extremely seriously, and […]

BREAKING: NCDC confirms first case of Omicron variant in Nigeria

BREAKING: NCDC confirms first case of Omicron variant in Nigeria

By Chioma Obinna The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Wednesday confirmed the first case of Omicron variant in Nigeria. The Centre said in line with the routine travel test required of all international travellers and Genomic sequencing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through Its National Reference Laboratory (NRL), Abuja–confirmed Nigeria’s […]

UPDATED: NCDC confirms first case of Omicron variant in Nigeria

UPDATED: NCDC confirms first case of Omicron variant in Nigeria

By Chioma Obinna *… urges states to curb community transmission The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Wednesday confirmed the first 3 cases of Omicron variant in Nigeria.  The Omicron variant, also known as the B.1.1.529 lineage, was confirmed in travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria. In a press statement by the […]

US tightens COVID-19 travel rules as countries race to quell Omicron threat

US tightens COVID-19 travel rules as countries race to quell Omicron threat

Air travellers to the United States (U.S.) will face tougher Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing rules as several countries moved to seal off their borders amid growing uncertainty around the virulence of the Omicron variant. The Omicron variant has the ability to dodge existing vaccines. In Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong and Japan said they would expand travel curbs, […]