The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • UN Chief commends Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 pandemic

    UN Chief commends Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 pandemic

    Agency Reporter

     

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has commended Nigeria’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    Speaking during a virtual news briefing in New York on Thursday, Guterres singled out Nigeria as one of the developing countries that have “shown a remarkable capacity to respond’’.

    “I have to say this; some of these developing countries have shown a remarkable capacity to respond.

    “I was quite impressed to see, for instance, Nigeria putting in place and immediately establishing a hospital.

    “And I saw difficulties in countries that are much more developed to do quickly the same,’’ Guterres said in response to a question.

  • Boris Johnson remains in isolation as COVID-19 symptoms persist

    Boris Johnson remains in isolation as COVID-19 symptoms persist

    Agency Reporter

     

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in self-isolation as he continues to suffer from COVID-19 symptoms.

    In a short video posted on Twitter, Johnson said he is feeling better after seven days in self-isolation. However, he added he still has a temperature and so will remain in self-isolation until it has gone.

    “In my own case, although I’m feeling better and I’ve done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom, I still have a temperature,” Johnson said. “And so in accordance with government advice I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes.”

    The prime minister urged people to stick with the social distancing rules as the weather becomes milder.

    Read Also: BREAKING: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19

    “I reckon a lot of people will be starting to think that this is all going on for quite a long time and would rather be getting out there, particularly if you’ve got kids in the household, everybody may be getting a bit stir crazy, and there may be just a temptation to get out there, hang out and start to break the regulations. I just urge you not to do that. Please, please stick with the guidance now,” he said.

    Both Johnson and the U.K.’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced last Friday they had tested positive for the virus. Hancock has recovered and is out of self-isolation. He attended the government’s daily press conference on Thursday afternoon.

    The U.K.’s chief Brexit negotiator David Frost is also now out of self-isolation after showing “mild symptoms” of COVID-19.

     

    (Newsnow)

  • Patients evacuated after wartime bomb discovered at German hospital

    Patients evacuated after wartime bomb discovered at German hospital

    A university hospital in the German city of Bonn evacuated 200 patients on Thursday after a wartime bomb was discovered on the grounds, a hospital spokesperson said.

    Among the patients evacuated were 11 people suffering from Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, who had been receiving intensive care treatment.

    Most patients were accommodated in other parts of the university hospital, some were transferred to other hospitals.

    The defusing of the five-ton bomb from the Second World War took place in the afternoon.

    “All closures have been lifted,” a city spokesman said afterwards.

    Read Also: More cases likely, say minister, NCDC

    Almost 1,200 residents had also had to leave their homes.

    The wartime ordnance was discovered on Wednesday during construction work – a relatively common occurrence in German cities, even today.

    Around 650 people haven’t been required to evacuate, were ordered not to leave their buildings while bomb disposal experts were at work.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • Africa CDC, WHO differ over confirmed cases

    Africa CDC, WHO differ over confirmed cases

    Our Reporter

    THE World Health Organisation (WHO), Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo said on Thursday that there are now 6,075 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on African continent with 214 deaths.

    But the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) claimed that death toll from the pandemic on the African continent has reached 221 and confirmed positive cases have surpassed 6,213.

    The Africa CDC’s report, at the time of calculation, increased by seven deaths and 138 deaths.

    The UN’s health agency gave the update in its regional official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Thursday.

    It said: “They are 6,075 cases on the African continent, with 214 deaths and 478 recoveries reported.

    “In past seven days, four new countries in the Region have confirmed cases of COVID-19, including Botswana, Burundi, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone.”

    The agency said South Africa currently had the highest in the region with 1,380 cases and five deaths, Algeria 847 cases with 58 deaths and Burkina Faso has 261 confirmed cases with 14 deaths.

    “Nigeria has 174 confirmed cases; nine have been discharged with two deaths.”

    The Africa CDC – a specialised agency of the 55-member African Union (AU) – in its latest situation update issued yesterday, said the cases were spread across 49 African countries.

    The agency also disclosed that the highly COVID-19 affected countries include South Africa with 1,380 confirmed cases, Algeria with 716 confirmed cases as well as Egypt with 779 confirmed cases.

    The Africa CDC also disclosed that some 469 people who have been infected with the COVID-19 have recovered across the continent as of the stated period.

    Amid the rapid spread of the virus across the African continent, figures from the Africa CDC also show that more than 427 new confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported across the continent since the centre’s recent report on Wednesday.

    The death toll increased from 196 to 221 as of the stated period, according to the Africa CDC.

    The African Union, through Africa CDC, has already activated its Emergency Operations Centre and its Incident Management System (IMS) for the COVID-19 outbreak on Jan. 27.

    The Africa CDC had also developed its third Incident Action Plan that covers the period from March 16 to April 15.

    Kenya frees 4,800 prisoners to curb spread of COVID-19

    Kenya’s Judiciary said yesterday it has released 4,800 prisoners, who are serving sentences for petty offences to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

    David Maraga, Chief Justice, said the prisoners, who were serving jail terms of less than six months, have been released by the High Court in the last two weeks after review of their files.

    “New inmates are being isolated to reduce the risk of infection and movement of inmates has been highly restricted.

    “Prison visits have been suspended, including visits to the staff quarters.

    “Prison labour has also been reduced to a bare minimum,’’ Maraga said in a statement issued yesterday in Nairobi.

    Somali president pardons 148 prisoners

    Somali President Mohamed Farmajo yesterday pardoned 148 prisoners as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

    Farmajo said the release of the prisoners with petty crimes follows a report submitted to him by the country’s attorney general on the conditions of the prisoners in the wake of COVID-19.

  • Saudi Arabia imposes 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina

    Saudi Arabia imposes 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina

    Agency Reporter

     

    Saudi Arabia imposed a 24-hour curfew in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina on Thursday, extending measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 1,700 people in the kingdom and killed 16.

    The Interior Ministry said in a statement there were some exceptions, including for essential workers and in order for residents to buy food and access medical care.

    Cars in those cities’ residential districts may only carry one passenger to limit the virus’ transmission, it said.

    The country of 30 million has taken drastic steps to contain the disease, halting international flights, closing most public places and suspending the year-round Umrah Pilgrimage.

    On Tuesday, it asked Muslims to put plans for the annual hajj pilgrimage on hold pending more clarity about the pandemic.

    Read Also: Under pressure, British PM promises ‘massive’ coronavirus tests increase

    Restrictions on movement have tightened, with entry and exit to Riyadh, Mecca, Medina and Jeddah heavily restricted.

    Some neighbourhoods in Mecca and Medina were already under full lockdown, but in the rest of those cities, the curfew was previously from 1500 to 0600.

    The eastern oil-producing province of Qatif, where the kingdom’s first coronavirus cases were reported last month among Shi’ite Muslim pilgrims returning from Iran, has been on lockdown for nearly four weeks.

    Saudi Arabia has the most infections and deaths among the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council.

    But public health officials say past experience combating the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) helped prepare the kingdom for the new coronavirus outbreak. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Thousands of families displaced by floods in Yemen

    Thousands of families displaced by floods in Yemen

    At least 4,625 families have been displaced by flooding in several Yemeni governorates, Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday. According to the UNHCR, heavy rain fell across southern and eastern Yemen on 24 and 24 March.

    Floodwater covered several homes and streets in Aden and destroyed bridges, streets and water networks. Crops were also damaged in the governorate of Hadhramaut.

    Read Also: Ijegun fire victims want govt to clear flood-prone canal

    Yemen has been subject to a war now into its sixth year that has created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Eighty per cent of the population requires humanitarian aid and millions face famine and malnutrition.

    The UN has recorded that around 70,000 Yemenis have been wounded or killed in the conflict. Human rights groups put the figure at 100,000 killed, at least, with many more wounded.

    (www.newsnow.co.uk)

  • Somali president pardons 148 prisoners to contain spread of COVID-19

    Somali president pardons 148 prisoners to contain spread of COVID-19

    Somali President Mohamed Farmajo, on Thursday, pardoned 148 prisoners as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

    Farmajo said the release of the prisoners with petty crimes follows a report submitted to him by the country’s attorney general on the conditions of the prisoners in the wake of COVID-19.

    The president also directed prison authorities and the Ministry of Health to take adequate measures to prevent health risks for the remaining inmates.

    READ ALSO: COVID-19: Timeline in Nigeria

    Farmajo said he invoked Article 90 of the Provisional Constitution, which grants him powers to pardon prisoners who are not serving sentences for serious crimes.

    The Horn of Africa nation has so far confirmed five coronavirus cases involving three Somali nationals and two foreigners.

    Somalia has banned both domestic and international flights and public gatherings, among other measures, to contain the spread of the pandemic.

    (Xinhua/NAN)

  • More than 350,000 fines handed out to French lockdown violators

    More than 350,000 fines handed out to French lockdown violators

     

    French police and gendarmes have handed out 359,000 fines to people caught violating the country’s strict coronavirus lockdown, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Wednesday.

    Security forces have carried out 5.8 million checks since the lockdown came into effect on March 17, Castaner told LCI television.

    Under the French rules, anyone out in public has to carry a signed declaration stating the reason they left their home, which can be for essential shopping, work, medical appointments or limited exercise.

    France has confirmed more than 52,000 coronavirus infections, and 3,523 hospitalised patients have died.

    Castaner also warned that nobody should think of heading away during the country’s upcoming spring school holidays.

    During lockdown, he warned, “you don’t go on holidays.”

  • Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to delay Hajj bookings

    Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to delay Hajj bookings

     

    Saudi Arabia has asked Muslims planning to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage to delay booking amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic, BBC reports.

    Hajj Minister Mohammed Banten said the kingdom was concerned about the safety of pilgrims and urged people to “wait before concluding contracts”.

    Some two million people were expected to travel to Mecca and Medina this July and August for the annual gathering.

    Muslims who are physically able must undertake the Hajj once in a lifetime.

    Read Also: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to put Hajj plans on hold

     

    The lesser pilgrimage, the Umra, has already been suspended as a precaution to try to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

    People are also being prevented from entering Mecca and Medina, as well as the capital, Riyadh, as the Saudi authorities attempt to contain an outbreak of Covid-19 that has infected about 1,563 people and claimed 10 lives.

     

  • Spain’s coronavirus cases top 100,000 as masks, sanitiser flown in

    Spain’s coronavirus cases top 100,000 as masks, sanitiser flown in

    Two planes packed with protective equipment arrived to restock Spain’s overloaded public health system on Wednesday as its confirmed coronavirus cases rose beyond 100,000 and it recorded its biggest one-day death toll from the outbreak.

    Barring Italy, the virus has killed more people in Spain than anywhere else, triggering a lockdown that has brought economic activity to a virtual standstill. A survey showed Spain’s manufacturing sector is heading for a slump after shrinking in March at its steepest pace since 2013.

    A record 864 fatalities overnight took the country’s overall toll to 9,053 while total infections rose to 102,136, health officials said, adding that the percentage increase in deaths was lower than in recent days.

    “The central issue is no longer whether we’ve reached the peak or not, it seems like we are there,” health emergency chief Fernando Simon, who was himself diagnosed with the virus this week, told a briefing.

    “The key issue is to make sure that the national health system is capable of guaranteeing adequate coverage of all our patients and treatment,” he said.

    The streets of Madrid were virtually empty, with construction cranes standing idle and activity bubbling mainly around hospitals, where health workers were setting up tents to expand capacity, and disinfection crews spraying sanitiser.

    Read Also: Ekiti confirms second coronavirus case

     

    Health Minister Salvador Illa said the growth rate of contagion was slowing down and, after the peak is over, “the second stage will be to reverse it and the third to eradicate the virus.”

    Most of Spain has been under lockdown since March 14, with all but essential workers confined to their homes after the state of emergency was further tightened. But the virus has continued to spread, overburdening the health system and straining supplies of crucial medical equipment.

    Two planes carrying supplies including masks, overalls and anti-bacterial fluids – one from China and one from Turkey – landed yesterday at a military airport near Madrid, the Defence Ministry said.

    The government said it had sent five million pieces of protective equipment to health workers in the regions over the past 48 hours following these and other recent deliveries.

    A cluster of infections has sprung up around Moncloa Palace, the seat of Spain’s government, with three ministers catching the virus as well as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s wife and father-in-law.