Oyo Govt. Discovers 84 Suspected Coronavirus Cases, Impose Dusk To Dawn Curfew

AgegePulse

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, announced stringent measures to halt the coronavirus spread in the state after three new confirmed cases and 84 suspected cases were discovered in the state.

Makinde’s announcement came hours after Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), claimed that Oyo now has three confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. Among the cases, Theguild gathered, was fiancee of the hip-hop star, David Adeleke popularly called Davido.

In a statement the governor personally signed, he said: “As a result of this, I have directed that the following additional measures be put in place: dusk to dawn curfew (7 PM to 6 AM); no gatherings of more than 10 people should be held anywhere in Oyo State,”.

The governor added: “From Sunday night, March 29, 2020, all markets will be closed except those selling perishable food items.”

Makinde, also suspended inter-state transportation, incoming and outgoing, except for vehicles carrying food items, medical, pharmaceutical and petroleum products, saying, this takes effect from Sunday night, March 29, 2020. All measures will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

According to the Governor, 84 other suspected cases have been identified in the state as contact tracing and collection of samples commence.

“The state’s diagnostic centre set up in collaboration with the University College Hospital is now ready,” Makinde said. “The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) certification is still pending but the Director-General of NCDC has made a pre-statement about the molecular laboratory in Oyo State.”

He noted that the state’s “index case remains stable and is still under observation in the isolation unit at Agbami Chest Centre, Jericho.”

The Guildng

Coronavirus: Egunjobi embarks on street-to-street sensitisation, visits Sarkin Hausawan, Mosque

AgegePulse Magazine

Executive Chairman of Agege local government, Alh Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi (JP), on Wednesday continued the ongoing sensitisation of the people of the area on coronavirus by the council with a street-to-street education.

Immediately Nigeria recorded her first case of the ravaging virus, the council hit the ground running with series of sensitisation programmes with the first leg held at the main market and graced by stakeholders from community, and faith based organisation leaders, to traders.

The council's sponsored an advertisement in which it appealed to residents to abide by orders issued by the state government in the fight against  the pandemic was also aired on popular Yoruba newspaper review programme, Koko Inu-iwe Irohin, on Bond FM for days.

On Wednesday, Egunjobi took to the streets in Agege in order to bring the message home and monitor residents' compliance with the directives of the state government on precautionary measures to curb the spread.

The Council boss went around preaching personal hygiene and environmental sanitation including social distancing.

He urged people to wash their hands with soaps most times even as he generously distributed hand sanitizers.

Egunjobi however expressed his displeasure at the level of public compliance with government directives, especially on social distancing and hygiene.

Among the places he visited were the palace of Sarkin Hausawas and a mosque belonging to Hausa community at Moricas where he met with Sarkin Hausawan, HRM Musa Muhammed, and the Imam respectively.

CORONAVIRUS: LASG to Shut down Schools

AgegePulse Magazine

As part of the preventive measures against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Lagos State Government is closing down all public and private schools from Monday, 23rd March 2020.

The move becomes necessary to prevent our children and their teachers from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic.

It is important for parents to ensure that their children practise ‘social distancing’ while at home, wash their hands regularly or use hand sanitizers and observe high standards of personal hygiene.
Children should be encouraged to remain at home.

The closure is not intended to create panic but to arrest the spread of the disease, which has become a global threat.

The Incident Command Centre, headed by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the Incident Commander, will continue to trace all contacts of the identified cases and encourage anyone who has information about suspected cases to report to the nearest hospital or call  the emergency telephone numbers 08023169485, 08033565529, 08052817243 and 08023401214.

#LASG
#ForAGreaterLagos
#LagosAgainstCoronavirus

Arsenal's Mikel Arteta tests positive for coronavirus

Arteta

AgegePulse

Sky Sports News’ Geraint Hughes discusses the possible implications on the Premier League and EFL of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta testing positive for coronavirus
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus and their Premier League match against Brighton on Saturday has been cancelled.

Arteta will now self-isolate in line with government health guidelines and it is expected the first-team squad - along with coaching staff - will do the same.


Arteta said: "This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I'm allowed."


Managing director Vinai Venkatesham said: "The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is.


"We are in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows."

After Arteta's positive test was confirmed on Thursday evening, the Premier League announced it would hold an emergency meeting on Friday morning regarding upcoming fixtures.

A statement said: "In light of Arsenal's announcement tonight confirming that their first team coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19, the Premier League will convene an emergency club meeting tomorrow morning regarding future fixtures."

SkySport

Coronavirus/Lassa Fever: Egunjobi Inaugurates Emergency Preparedness, Response Team .

...Charged Residents on Regular Handwash

Following the outbreak of the deadly diseases in the country, Lassa Fever and that of Corona Virus, The Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi (JP) today took sensitization campaign and awareness to market in order to sensitise the community members and the general public on prevention of Coronavirus and Lassa Fever in Agege Local government.

He said that, "Available evidences in all countries have shown that infectious diseases are now on the rampage.

"Lassa fever has killed so many people in Nigeria. Coronavirus has also become a very serious global challenge.

"I believe we are all aware that Nigeria as of this morning has one confirmed case of the deadly Coronavirus disease otherwise known as COVID-19.

"In the same vein, several people are currently under medical examinations and in isolation centres or quarantined across the country in quest to determine whether they have been infected by the disease.

"Coronavirus in particular is changing our ways of life.  The fear of it is now the beginning of wisdom. Saudi Arabia yesterday shutdown the holiest mosque, Kaaba, announcing her plan to sterilize it. Earlier the kingdom suspended the year-round lesser hajj.

"The English Football Association also put in abeyance the pre-match traditional handshakes during Premiership games while Seria A matches are now being played behind closed door due to the same Coronavirus disease."

"Our government has resolved to promote a culture of routine hand washing as a strategy to reduce deadly infectious diseases and also foster environmental sanitation in markets, garages, schools, mosques, churches and other public places across the community.

"We will provide hand washing points in strategic locations and continuously promote hand washing in our communities, ” he added.

The chairman said that most of the infectious diseases could be prevented if people maintained good personal and environmental hygiene.

"Let's keep our food stuffs in covered containers and ensure regular hand washing with soap and water in order to prevent deadly infections.

We have also resolved to provide strong leadership in infection control, "I have constituted Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee which will be inaugurated today".

"I therefore charged Residents on regular handwash which will give them opportunity to prevent such diseases.

"My advice to you on the issue of Coronavirus apart from personal hygiene, is to party less. Also, don’t pick offence when you offer people handshake and they decline.'

Earlier, The Head of Medical Department, Agege Local Government, Dr. Akintayo, Akintoba Adebayo addressed the public on how to tackle health challenges related to Corronavirus and Lassa Fever.

This is a market place which welcome different types of people, we have to be conscious of this LASSA fever at the same time prevent its spread,” he said.

The doctor also educated the traders on frequent hand washing and the use of sanitisers at both the market place and at home.

He added that, the leadership of the Council will continue in the sensitisation campaign program in other public places for adequate sensitization.

The Council boss thereafter take lead on proper hand washing and sharing of informational and pictorial flyers to the stakeholders.

Representing the Iyaloja General, The Iyaloja, Agege Main Market, Alhaja Monsurat Ajayi Adeyemi in her remarks, thanked the council chairman and his team for the enlightenment and assured them that the traders would abide by the advice given to them to prevent the spread of the diseases.

 Hon. Prince Abiodun Ogunji (Vice Chairman), Hon. Gbenga Abiola (SLG), Alhaji Tunde Azeez (APC Chairman Agege LG) led  LG excos and ward chairmen; Members of the Legislative arm led by Hon. Joel Olabode Adigun; Hon. Bola Britto  Hon. Ganiyu Adeyemo were among top dignitaries at the event.

Others include, Baale in council, Management team, Health officers led by the HMO; market men and women led by the representative of Iyaloja General of Agege LG; CDC and CDA members led by Alhaji Ayo Adesiyan.

REGULAR HAND WASHING, FRUITS INTAKE CRITICAL TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS – SANWO-OLU’S WIFE

AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Thursday emphasized the need for residents of the State to imbibe the habit of regular hand washing with soap and water as well as lots of fruits intake to build immunity against CoronaVirus disease now known as Covid-19.

Sanwo-Olu, who spoke at a Special Sanitation Visitation of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) to Tejuosho Ultra Modern Market in Yaba, said it was important for people to adequately fortify themselves to be on a sound footing to ward off any threat of disease.

According to the Governor’s wife, who is also the chairman of COWLSO, market sanitation was a critical factor in protecting the health of residents, and that the government would do everything possible to ensure hygiene in markets across the State in line with the Health and Environment component of the THEMES Agenda of the present administration.

“Coming in to the market this morning, I saw a banner placed at the entrance gate to educate the people about CoronaVirus and I must commend you for that because it is important for the markets to be clean. It is also important for people to imbibe the habit of regular washing of hands with soap and water.

“It is very important that we should all be aware that as long as we are eating clean and healthy vegetables and fruits, we would be able to increase our immunity so that we will be strong to fight the virus.

“As a matter of fact, this time around we need double dose of clean vegetables; double dose of fruits and for the doctors we would recommend Vitamin C to build your immunity and even when you have any of the attack like cough and so on, it would run its course and not stay in your body.

“By the grace of God, we are going to ensure that everybody fortifies their body by eating well, eating clean food and being in clean environment and that is why we are starting with the markets because most people come to the market to buy things and there will also be reward for cleanest market,” she said.

She added that in line with the ongoing campaign to end Tuberculosis, it was equally essential to educate the people that they should use handkerchiefs to cover their mouth when coughing and in case that is not available, the hand or elbow should be used to prevent the spread of the disease, as well as regular medical checkup.

Besides, the First Lady commended the Babaloja and Iyaloja of Tejuosho market for maintaining a clean environment, just as she urged them to go further to ensure that the shop owners in adjourning areas to the market also key into the efforts to foster cleaner environment.

Responding, Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Hon Tajudeen Ajide commended the First Lady for choosing market in the council as the first point of call for the sanitation visitation, saying it was clear that the health of residents was a priority to the COWLSO leadership.

Also, Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo said the initiative of COWLSO to visit market to play up sanitation was in line with the vision of market leadership in the State to ensure that hygiene is accorded the needed priority.

LASG Confirms First Case of Coronavirus

AgegePulse Magazine

Akin Abayomi visit Coronavirus victim us

The Ministry of Health in Lagos State has confirmed its first case of COVID-19 and reported it to the Federal Ministry of Health. The case, which was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020, is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the outbreak in China in January 2020.

The case is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th Feburary from Milan Italy for a brief business visit. He fell ill on the 26th February and was transfered to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing.  COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

The Government of Lagos State under the Governor as the COVID-19 Incident Commander, through the the Lagos State Ministry of Health has been strengthening measures to ensure an outbreak in Lagos is controlled and contained quickly in collaboration with the multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). We have immediately activated the State Emergency Operations Centre to respond to this case and implement firm control measures.

I wish to assure all Lagosians and Nigerians we have been beefing up our preparedness capabilities since the first confirmation of cases in China, and we will use all the resources made available by the State and Federal government to respond to this case.

We have already started working to identify all the contacts of the patient, since he entered Nigeria. Please be reminded that most people who become infected may experience only mild illness and recover easily, but it can be more severe in others, particularly the elderly and persons with other underlying chronic illnesses. All Lagosians should take care of their health and maintain hand and respiratory hygiene to protect themselves and others, including their own families, following the precautions below:

1.    Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
2.    Maintain at least 1 & half metres (5 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
3. Persons with persistent cough or sneezing should stay home or keep a social distance, but not mix in crowd.
4. Make sure you and people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene, meaning cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue or into your sleeve at the bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
5. Stay home if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing. Please call Lagos State Emergency hotlines 08023169485 or 08033565529 or 08052817243 which are available day and night.
6. Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19 through official channels on TV and Radio, Social Media including the Lagos State Ministry of Health, NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health.

Citizens must not abuse social media and indulge in spreading misinformation that causes fear and panic. The Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, will continue to provide updates and will initiate all measures required to prevent the spread of any outbreak in Lagos.

CORONAVIRUS: LASG inaugurates Incident Command System

…To Start "Supervised Quarantine"

...Gov Sanwo-Olu Becomes Chief Incident Commander

 AgegePulse Magazine

In a bid to prevent an outbreak of the fast spreading Novel Coronavirus, the Lagos State Government on Monday launched an Incident Command System.

The health emergency structure is being set up to help with containment in the unlikely event of outbreaks of the virus in the State.

Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi explained that the Novel Coronavirus is a new pathogen to the human race and as such, research is still ongoing on how to arrest it.

According to him, no suspected or confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus has been found in Lagos, warning residents against rumour mongering on public health and safety.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while launching the Incident Command System said the measure is not to stigmatise citizens of any country but a precautionary one taken in the interest of the people.

The Command System will have the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Incident Commander while the Commissioner for Health will serve as the Deputy Incident Commander.

The Governor noted that relevant health professionals, in conjunction with the Federal ministry of health, would be deployed to the Lagos International Airport for a higher level of monitoring.

The Governor assured that the Government and Non Governmental Organisations will continue to escalate communication and create public awareness.

He said: “What we have started to do is to have what we call a heightened state concern on the Coronavirus. We are not declaring an emergency in any form but creating a heightened state concern.

"Also, the Honourable Commissioner through his Ministry will identify relevant health professionals that would, in conjunction with the Federal ministry of health, be deployed to our International Airports in Lagos where we would see higher level of monitoring as well as organised level of incidence reporting layout.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu said that although the team expects people to be self quarantined, he however stressed that the State will carry out a supervised quarantine where details about immigrants will be taken at the point of entry while the team will do daily follow-ups through phone calls to identified individuals for a period of two weeks.

According to the Governor, the command will be in operation for the period of time the risk lasts. He assured that adequate preparation has been carried out to tackle the virus.

The Governor said: “This command will go on until when we believe and we have been given assurance that we have a stable and controlled environment but in the meantime, this exercises are going to be put in place and we are going to start things immediately.

“I also want to mention that we have started providing both human and material logistics required for this exercise.

“All of our major General Hospitals are also being prepared in event of an outpour into any of them. The hospitals in mainland have tents coming up and extensive resources are being put in that particular health facility for them to be on standby in case of any suspected or identified case.”

Abayomi further added that the WHO has declared the novel coronavirus a global health concern, saying this will make the State Government step up scrutinising travellers coming in from mostly affected region.

“We need to really ramp up the human capacity at the airport to be able to scrutinise all travellers coming in from particularly the routes that are coming in from the South East Asian regions.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; the Consul General of People's Republic of China, Chu Moaming and the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji were among the dignitaries present at the event.