Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General (DG) of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said there “is a case definition for COVID-19” and only those with symptoms will be tested by the Centre.
The NCDC DG stated this while answering questions fielded by journalists during the Presidential Task Force Briefing on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Abuja.
Dr Ihekweazu while advising against unnecessary agitation to get tested for the virus all because of “anxiety” said there are three criteria the NCDC usually consider to consider a case worthy of being tested for the coronavirus disease.
“We have a case definition for COVID-19, either respiratory symptoms plus travel; respiratory symptoms plus contact with a confirmed case; or respiratory symptoms of unknown explanation.
“These are the three groups of people we will be testing. Because the more people force themselves into being tested, the less we have the capacity to test people who are really in need of the test
“These people that really need it will be transmitting it to the community and more people will get infected.
“So there is a consequence not just for you as an individual but for the rest of the society”
Dr Ihekweazu also noted that the Centre has been testing about 500 suspected cases per day, “by the end of this week, we will be testing 1,000, by next week we plan to take it to about 1,500 per day.”
Africa ’ s largest city Lagos was deserted after Nigeria locked down its economic hub and shuttered its capital , in the continent ’ s latest effort to brake the juggernaut of coronavirus .
Businesses were closed , markets abandoned and streets empty as the usually chaotic megacity of 20 million , along with the capital Abuja , shuddered to a halt on the first full day of a two – week shutdown .
Police in protective equipment manned checkpoints , trucks carrying non – essential items were turned back and youths were spotted playing football on a usually traffic – clogged highway .
“ It is like putting people in prison, ” said minibus taxi driver Mutiu Adisa .
“ I don ’ t know how people can survive for two weeks without working to make money. ”
Nigeria embarked late Monday on one of Africa’ s most ambitious efforts at social distancing after recording 135 confirmed cases and two deaths .
Enforcing the stay – at – home order in the overcrowded slums of Lagos will be a mammoth challenge as millions of poor depend on their daily earnings to survive .
Officials insist the draconian measures are needed urgently to ward off an explosion in infections that could easily overwhelm the weak health system in Africa ’ s most populous nation.
“ To reduce the number of people with coronavirus , we know they need to stop movement , ” 60 – year – old engineer Ogun Nubi Victor said .
“ But there is no money for the citizens , people are just sitting at home , with nothing to eat . How do we survive ?”
In an attempt to ease the pain, Lagos state authorities have pledged to supply basic food rations to some 200 , 000 of the city ’ s neediest households.
Members of the House of Representatives have resolved to donate their salaries for two months to the fight against COVID- 19 pandemic in Nigeria
The Speaker , Femi Gbajabiamila , who made the announcement, said the two – month salary donation would be independent of the contributions by individual lawmakers to alleviate the hardships being faced by their constituents “at this time of national emergency . ”
The Senate had on Monday pledged that its members would sustain the donation of half of their salaries to the Federal Government until the nation is totally free of the pandemic .
Gbajabiamila had earlier on Sunday , via his Twitter handle , @ femigbaja , said , “ I just presided over an emergency meeting of the body of principal officers of @ HouseNGR today Sunday , where we deliberated on the effects of the COVID- 19 pandemic . We know that the pandemic affects all our constituents and Nigerians can be assured of our legislative intervention . ”
According to a statement issued by his media office , which accompanied his video message to Nigerians , the Speaker said starting from March salary , the lawmakers ’ donation would be transferred directly to the National Relief Fund account for the fight against the pandemic .
He said , “ We have in the House of Representatives jointly committed to contributing 100 per cent of our salaries for the next two months to the fight against COVID- 19 in Nigeria . Our contribution will support provisions for the welfare of frontline medical professionals and health workers and other interventions , to provide for the wellbeing of all Nigerians through these trying times .
“ Accordingly , I have directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to see to it that all members’ salaries are transferred to the National Relief Fund for this month and the next . This is independent of ongoing individual efforts by members to alleviate the suffering brought on by this virus and to improve the living conditions of citizens in their various constituencies .
The Speaker added that the House would exercise its oversight power to ensure faithful administration of all emergency funds and contributions made so far , to ensure they serve the purpose for which they were intended.
He said consequently , the House had already mandated the Committees on Health and Disaster Preparedness to “ diligently oversee the distribution of items donated by local and foreign donors to ensure proper management . ”
Gbajabiamila also said the House has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to make cash grants to the 774 local government areas of the country to alleviate the suffering by the masses .
He said , “The House also calls on the CBN, as part of its policy measures in response to the COVID- 19 outbreak , to immediately direct cash grants to the 774 LGA administrations in the country to provide food and other essentials to at – risk individuals and communities . ”
China reported 48 new cases of coronavirus and five more COVID-19 deaths, in the latest figures released by the National Health Commission.
All of the new cases were so-called imported cases, detected in people, who had recently travelled outside of the country.
For weeks now, new infections have been almost exclusively imported, leading official sources to say the domestic spread has been brought under control.
Since its outbreak in December last year, 3,305 people in China have died due to the virus, which has infected 81,518 people, according to the Health Commission.
More than 76,000 have recovered so far.
Meanwhile, the mood in China’s industry has brightened after a record slump due to the coronavirus.
The Beijing Bureau of Statistics announced on Tuesday that the official Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) of the manufacturing sector jumped from 35.7 to 52 points in March.
Values above 50 points indicate a positive mood in the economy, while below that, a downturn is expected.
The strict measures to halt the disease’s spread had practically brought the Chinese economy to a standstill and unprecedented lows were recorded in January and February.
However, factories and companies are slowly resuming operations.
As the Statistical Office further said, more than half of the companies surveyed had started work again and resumed production.
The Federal Government has said it did not know how long COVID- 19 would last in the country.
The Secretary to the Government of Federation , Boss Mustapha , said this at a press conference he jointly addressed with the Minister of Health , Osagie Ehanire , in Abuja where the government revealed that the country had recorded its second COVID- 19 death .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID- 19 , on Sunday , ordered lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos , and Ogun states .
However , the Ogun State Government said it had got the presidential permission to shift the lockdown to Friday .
Buhari , had during a nationwide broadcast on Sunday , said the 14 – day lockdown would enable the government to trace and treat those who must have contracted the virus .
On Monday , the SGF , Mustapha , said , “ We don ’ t know how long this thing will last . That’ s the truth about it. I believe with sheer determination of all Nigerians , we will overcome these challenges .
“ We are doing everything to ensure conformity of policies with state governments . We will do everything within our power to stop the case . ”
He added , “ Let me use this medium to appeal to all Nigerians , through you , for full understanding , unity of purpose and in the interest of humanity , to observe all measures put in place, remain vigilant and cooperate with security and other agencies who are toiling day and night to keep us safe and alive . ”
Ehanire said no country could boast of having enough ventilators , which he said were not required for all cases .
He said , “ The question of ventilators; yes we are addressing it . There is no country in this world that has enough ventilators . Of all the cases we have had so far only one requires a ventilator . Some require just Oxygen . Probably less than four per cent of the cases we are dealing with require ventilators .
“ Government is also taking inventory of what each state requires. The number of ventilators you have in the country does not decide your rate of survival . ”
Ehanire said the President had approved that all retired but essential and able staff be recalled to service .
He said the President had also issued directives for all Federal Government stadia , pilgrims camps and other facilities to be converted to isolation centres and makeshift hospitals.
To increase access to testing , the minister said the Federal Government was working hard to open up as many testing sites as possible .
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has handed over no fewer than 195 candidates in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination to the police for prosecution over alleged involvement in various examination malpractices .
JAMB said that some of the candidates had been arraigned by the police in various courts while others were still undergoing further investigation and would also face trial .
The board in its weekly bulletin obtained by our correspondent published the names and states of the 195 candidates .
Last week, it had released the names of 149 candidates with Imo , Anambra and Enugu states topping the list with 26 , 12 and 12 candidates respectively.
Meanwhile , the number of suspects has risen to 195 with Imo , Anambra , Enugu , Kano and Kaduna states leading with 28 , 16 , 15 , 15 and 15 cases respectively.
The offences listed against the candidates included ; examination by proxy , attempt to cheat , forceful entrance, tampering with examination documents , smuggling of mobile phones into the examination halls among others.
Other states on the list of malpractices included ; Abia , Adamawa , Jigawa , Kaduna , Kano, Kwara , Ondo , Oyo , and Osun .
The JAMB Head of Media , Dr Fabian Benjamin , said in an interview with news correspondent that the arrested candidates were with the police and arraignment had started .
He said , “ They ( the candidates ) are with the police . So the police will prosecute them. We don ’ t have prosecuting powers . When the police start prosecution, they certainly get across to us . Most of them have even been arraigned . When the arraignment is concluded , we will give you a comprehensive report . When we get to a stage that is important for everyone to know , we will let you know . But some of them have already been arraigned by the police . ”
The board had noted last week Thursday that despite the release of the 2020 UTME results , it would review all the Close Circuit Television footages and other installed technical gadgets for possible examination misconduct .
“ As part of its tradition , the board would not hesitate to withdraw the results of candidates found to have perpetrated any form of examination malpractice, ” JAMB said .
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission had disclosed this in its December 2019 Minor Review of Multi – Year Tariff Order 2015 and Minimum Remittance Order for the Year 2020 .
Checks by newsmen showed that the decision to increase tariff had not yet been suspended despite the lockdown occasioned by the COVID- 19 pandemic .
A top source at Ikeja Electric told newsmen that the firm had not received any directive from NERC as regards reversal of the plan .
He said , “ According to the tariff order for the year, we are supposed to increase on April 1 , 2020 . So far , we have not received any directive not to go ahead . ”
Efforts to get NERC to speak on the matter were not successful on Monday as the spokesman for the commission , Usman Arabi , said he was not around but on a course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies .
Arabi ’ s substitute , however , did not respond to calls or a text message sent to him .
NERC had disclosed in its December 2019 Minor Review of Multi – Year Tariff Order 2015 and Minimum Remittance Order for the Year 2020 that the order was issued to reflect the impact of changes in the minor review variables in the determination of cost- reflective tariffs and relevant tariff and market shortfalls for 2019 and 2020 .
The commission said the order also determined the minimum remittances payable by the distribution companies in meeting their market obligations based on the allowed tariffs .
It said , “The Federal Government’ s updated Power Sector Recovery Programme does not envisage an immediate increase in end- user tariffs until April 1 , 2020 , and a transition to full cost reflectivity by end of 2021 .
“ In the interim , the Federal Government has committed to funding the revenue gap arising from the difference between cost- reflective tariffs determined by the commission and the actual end- user tariffs payable by customers . ”
According to NERC , all Discos are obligated to settle their market invoices in full as adjusted and netted off by applicable tariff shortfall .
It said , “ All FGN intervention from the financing plan of the PSRP for funding tariff shortfall shall be applied through NBET and the market operator to ensure 100 per cent settlement of invoices issued by market participants .
“ Effectively , this order places a freeze on the tariffs of the TCN and administrative charges until April 2020 at the rates applied in generating MO invoices for the period of January to October 2019 . ”
Having been tested positive for Coronavirus, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has said that he remained asymptomatic and would remain in isolation until he fully recovers from the virus.
The governor who tweeted via his personal handle @seyiamakinde also said that he had appointed Prof Temitope Alonge, a former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while he recovers.
It would be recalled that Governor Makinde was one of the governors who attended the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, penultimate week, where he met with a number of colleagues.
The Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) had after the meeting advised its members who attended the Abuja meeting to go into self- isolation or undergo COVID-19 tests.
The test result, which was delivered to the governor at about 5.30 pm indicated that he had tested positive to Coronavirus.
The news of Makinde’s positive test came on the heels of the release of the state’s index case from the COVID-19 isolation centre.
The release of the patient was consequent upon the completion of his treatment at the Agbami Chest Hospital isolation centre, Ibadan.
The American returnee had initially tested negative only for the second test to read positive.
The index case had been on self-isolation at a private residence in Ibadan until he was transferred to the Isolation centre at Agbami, Jericho area of Ibadan on March 23.
The index case was released after two consecutive negative tests, the statement read.
The statement also quoted the State’s Incident Manager, Dr. Taiwo Ladipo as saying that the confirmed case spent six days in the isolation centre and had two negative tests.
“He is well and very stable and is now back to his house. The infectious disease specialist will be reviewing him for follow up action,” the Manager said.
The governor stated in his tweet: “I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is positive. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate.”
“I have designated Prof Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully. Please continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe.”
“The dusk to dawn curfew (7 PM to 6 AM) has taken affect from today; no gatherings of more than ten people should be held anywhere in Oyo State. From tonight, Sunday, March 29, 2020, all markets will be closed except those selling perishable food items.”
“Also, inter-state transportation into and out of the state has been suspended from tonight, Sunday, March 29, 2020, except vehicles carrying food items, medical, pharmaceutical and petroleum products. All measures will be reviewed on a weekly basis.
“Thank you all. Please stay safe by following the proper hygienic practices, washing your hands regularly or using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser and also practicising social distancing. The EOC Helplines; 08095394000 / 08095963000 / 08078288999 / 08078288800.”
More than 35 , 000 people have died worldwide from the coronavirus pandemic since it emerged late last year in China , most of them in Europe , according to an AFP tally at 1615 GMT Monday using official figures .
In total , 35 , 905 people have died , including 26 , 076 in Europe . Italy has the most deaths with 11 , 591 , following by Spain with 7 , 340 and China with 3 , 304 .
More than 740 , 00 cases have been officially detected in 183 countries and territories, including at least 408 , 203 in Europe , almost 150, 000 in the United States and Canada with 2 , 635 deaths and 106, 609 cases in Asia with 3 , 827 deaths .
Detected cases likely reflect only a fraction of the real number of infections as many countries are only testing the most serious cases.
China has reported a drop in new coronavirus infections for a fourth day as drastic curbs on international travellers reined in the number of imported cases.
Meanwhile , policymakers turned their efforts to healing the world ’ s second -largest economy .
The city of Wuhan , at the centre of the outbreak , reported no new cases for a sixth day , as businesses reopened and residents set about reclaiming a more normal life after lockdown for almost two months.
“ The Wuhan International Plaza is very representative of the city .
“ So its reopening really makes me feel this city is coming back to life , ’’ said Zhang Yu, 29 .
The National Health Commission said Sunday ’ s figure of 31 new cases, including one locally transmitted infection, was down from 45 the previous day .
As infections fall , policymakers are scrambling to revitalise an economy nearly paralysed by months- long curbs to control the spread of the flu-like disease .
The central bank unexpectedly cut the interest rate on reverse repurchase agreements by 20 basis points , the largest in almost five years .
The government is pushing businesses and factories to reopen , as it rolls out fiscal and monetary stimulus to spur recovery from what is feared to be an outright economic contraction in the quarter to March .
“ China ’ s exports and imports could worsen as the pandemic spreads , depressing demand both at home and abroad , ’’ Xin Guobin , the Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology , said .
Xin said that the country has extended loans of 200 billion yuan ( $ 28 billion ) to 5 , 000 businesses , from 300 billion allocated to help companies as they resume work.
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