Coronavirus

China reports another 397 cases of local transmission nationwide on Friday, 98 of them in Jilin province that surrounds Changchun, a center of the country’s auto industry. A northeastern Chinese city of nine million people has been ordered to lock down, as authorities scramble to halt a fresh Covid-19 outbreak …

Africa’s top public health agency has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pfizer to bring supplies of the pharmaceutical firm’s Paxlovid antiviral COVID-19 pills to the continent. “The memorandum of understanding is with the legal office at the African Union (AU)”, John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for …

  Novak Djokovic arrives at Belgrade airport after leaving Australia on Sunday January16, after a court upheld the government’s decision to cancel his visa, capping days of drama over the country’s Covid entry rules and his unvaccinated status. The tennis star says he is “extremely disappointed” to have lost his …

AstraZeneca said on Thursday January 13, preliminary data from a trial it conducted on its COVID-19 shot, Vaxzevria, showed it generated a higher antibody response against the Omicron variant and others, including Beta, Delta, Alpha and Gamma, when given as a third booster dose.

The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency has advised governors to enforce the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for local and state government workers. This was contained in a recent advisory issued by the agency. In the advisory, the NPHCDA said the measure has become imperative in the wake of rising cases of …

A researcher in Cyprus has discovered a strain of the coronavirus that combines the delta and omicron variants.  Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, and head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology, called the strain “deltacron,” because of its omicron-like genetic signatures within …

The Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus – possibly one that causes the common cold – present in the same infected cells, according to researchers. This genetic sequence does …

Booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine for Nigerians who are fully vaccinated has been approved by the federal government.  Mohammad Ohitoto, spokesman for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) disclosed this on Friday December 3.  Eligible Nigerians have been directed to visit health centers and mass vaccination sites, …

August 16 has been set as the new date for commencement of the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination in the country.  Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed in an interview on Nigerian Television Authority’s (NTA) ‘Good Morning Nigeria’’ programme, said the moderna vaccines donated by the United States of America …

The US President, Joe Biden on Monday softened his criticism that platforms like Facebook are “killing people” with misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, saying he wishes the company would do more to stop the spread of inaccurate information. “Facebook isn’t killing people; these 12 people are out there giving misinformation. …

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control has approved the use of  Moderna and Sputnik COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria.  Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Moji Adeyeye, made the announcement on Thursday July 15, said the vaccines were approved for emergency use.  Professor Adeyeye noted that though Sputnik vaccine which is produced in Russia …

At least 64 people have been killed in a fire at the coronavirus isolation ward of a hospital in Iraq, the second such deadly blaze in a COVID-19 unit in three months, state news agency INA said on Tuesday. More than 100 were also injured in the fire that broke …

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered all religious houses to reduce the number of worshippers at a time. This comes as a third wave of COVID-19 pandemic hits Lagos. In an update on Sunday, July 11, Sanwo-Olu said isolation centres in the state have recorded a five per cent increase in …

The Federal Government has announced restriction for travellers from South Africa, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. The Federal Government through the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, in the month of May, had placed a ban on travellers from India, Brazil and Turkey within 14 days …

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to jail those who refuse Covid-19 vaccines as the nation ramps up inoculations to prevent the spread of the highly contagious delta variant, with more than 1.3 million cases and 23,000 deaths. “If you’re a person who’s not vaccinated and a potential carrier, to protect …

The city of New York has announced it will be giving out $2500 cash to 10 lucky New Yorkers who get vaccinated against COVID-19. According to New York Mayor, De Blasio’s office, the effort is to encourage more people to get vaccinated. The Mayor’s office announced that winners will be picked …

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Sunday announced an increase in foreign exchange allocations to banks to meet the requests of customers. These requests include travellers seeking foreign exchange for travel allowances, payment of tuition and medical fees, among other invisible. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this at a …

As pressure mounts on bars, recreational centres and night club operators to remain closed down as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 have fallen under serious criticism by stakeholders who described the directive as paralysing those businesses even when there is no direct intervention  …

Nigeria’s Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 has declared 90 passengers who arrived in Nigeria from Brazil, India, and Turkey between 8th May 2021 and 15th May 2021, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, wanted for violating the provisions of the COVID-19 Health Regulations …

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has granted approval for the emergency use of Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID19 vaccine for Nigerians from 18 years The Director-General of the agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known in a statement released in Abuja, on Tuesday. “After a thorough …

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a severe warning that the second year of Covid-19 is set to be “far more deadly.”  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, (WHO) Director-General issued warning on Friday.  He stated that “we’re on track for the second year of this pandemic to be far more deadly …

As India grapples with a deadly second wave of Covid-19, doctors have warned of a rare infection known as “black fungus,” following a spate of cases throughout the country. Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh were the latest states in India to report cases of mucormycosis on Tuesday, after hundreds …

Doctors in India are warning against the practice of using cow poop as COVID-19 cure because there is no scientific evidence for its effectiveness and that it risks spreading other diseases. India has continued to face the world’s most devastating wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with 22.66 million cases and 246,116 …

A young Italian woman is being monitored in hospital after accidentally receiving six doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine. Italian media said a 23-year-old woman was placed under observation in Massa, central Tuscany, after the error. She was in good condition after receiving fluids and paracetamol following the injection on …

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday said it expanded the emergency use authorization for the use for the BioNTech/Pfizer coronavirus vaccination to include children and adolescents aged 12 to 15. The vaccine by German vaccine maker BioNTech and its US partner Pfizer had previously only been approved …

In its latest covid-19 update, the United Kingdom has recommended that citizens should not travel to “Amber” countries and territories for leisure. The UK uses the amber, green and red colours to categorize covid-19 risk in countries. Nigeria and over fifty countries were captured on the ‘Amber’ list, according to …

The General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has announced a new book that will enlighten the public on how to “terminate” Coronavirus and other terminal diseases. He disclosed this during the Church’s 40th anniversary Thanksgiving service on Sunday. The title of the book is “Jesus Still …

In the midst of the Covid-19 surge in India, two lions at a safari park have been tested positive for the virus. India has experienced an upsurge in the coronavirus pandemic. Last Wednesday, the country recorded up to 3,780 Covid-19 deaths, being the highest single-day death toll. Hospitals in India …

New York City is still using refrigerated trucks to store bodies of coronavirus victims, more than a year after they were first set up as temporary morgues as deaths surged at the height of the pandemic. The city’s medical examiner’s office said on Friday that 750 bodies are being kept …

The Indonesian government has vowed to issue “strict punishment” for some staff of a state-owned pharmaceutical company accused of washing and reusing cotton swabs for COVID-19 tests at a busy international airport. Five people employed by Kimia Farma Diagnostika are accused of washing and reusing nasal swabs for thousands of …

India, the world’s second most populous country run low on oxygen supplies as Coronavirus Storm overwhelms its health system. Delhi’s government issued a call for help on social media on Wednesday saying major government hospitals only had enough oxygen to last another eight to 24 hours while some private ones …

The World Health Organization (WHO) has staunchly rejected the use of Covid passports to reopen travel in a meeting of its emergency committee, over concerns that vaccinations alone won’t prevent the transmission of the virus. Reiterating their previously stated position on Monday, the WHO’s Emergency Committee said it opposed the …

The Chinese president has spoken of his wish to see a fairer world which isn’t dominated by a single country as he called for an end to the artificial “building of walls” and “decoupling” amid simmering tensions with the US. Speaking on Tuesday at the annual Boao Forum for Asia, …

Japanese doctors have performed what doctors say is the world’s first lung transplant from living donors to a recovered coronavirus patient after operating on a Japanese woman whose lungs were severely damaged by Covid-19. According to Kyoto University Hospital in Japan, the woman underwent an 11-hour operation by a 30-strong medical …

The senior pastor of the LoveWorld Incorporated, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has questioned the faith of Nigerian Christians receiving AstraZeneca vaccine against coronavirus. Oyakhilome revealed that Christians should believe in the word of God more than the vaccine, adding that they are healers. He also berated the Nigerian government for asking …

The African Export-Import Bank will soon begin the deployment of the $2bn Vaccine Procurement facility approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors towards assisting the African continent. The facility is expected to enable the continent rid itself of the Coronavirus pandemic and rebuild its economy. The President of AFREXIM Bank, …

The Lagos State Government says 127,885 persons have so far received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. The state achieved the feat despite questions being raised  over the efficacy of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in establishing herd immunity in the country. The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin …

Citizens of Philippines won’t be celebrating Easter in a normal way this year as its president has imposed a strict lockdown in the capital and nearby provinces, spoiling Easter plans for millions in the Catholic dominated country. Over the weekend, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced the lockdown after the country …

86 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;FCT-33Lagos-28Ondo-11Kano-7Akwa Ibom-3Rivers-3Kaduna-1 86 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;FCT-33Lagos-28Ondo-11Kano-7Akwa Ibom-3Rivers-3Kaduna-1161,737 confirmed147,899 discharged2,030 deaths pic.twitter.com/jW6R7iZC8L— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 21, 2021 Highlights The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has announced that 86 new cases of Coronavirus were recorded in the country on Sunday March 21. Till date, 161737 cases have been …

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and other members of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID19 took their first jabs of the COVID19 vaccines on National TV on Monday, March 8. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman of the PFT, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Health Osagiue …

371 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; 371 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;Lagos-102Enugu-65Edo-56FCT-23Ogun-20Osun-18Bayelsa-18Rivers-15Kaduna-14Plateau-10Oyo-8Bauchi-7Kano-5Delta-4Nasarawa-3Niger-2Ekiti-1158,906 confirmed138,502 discharged1,982 deaths pic.twitter.com/DlLJjXqdZj— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 8, 2021 HighlightsOn 8th of March 2021, 371 new confirmed cases and 13 deaths were recorded in NigeriaTill date, 158906 cases have been confirmed, 138502 cases have been discharged and 1982 deaths have …

The founder of Kingsway International Christian Centre, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, has received shot of COVID-19 vaccine. Pst. Ashimolowo, whose church has branches in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, shared photos of his vaccination on social media on Sunday. “I have taken the vaccination today. Very simple and quick. I encourage …

Austrian authorities have suspended inoculations with a batch of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine as a precaution while they investigate the death of one person after and the illness of another after the shots. “The Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG) has received two reports in a temporal connection with …

479 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; 479 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;Lagos-153Enugu-75Rivers-50FCT-40Kaduna-18Ebonyi-17Plateau-17Edo-17Borno-16Oyo-12Kano-11Abia-10Cross River-10Taraba-9Nasarawa-7Bauchi-4Bayelsa-3Delta-3Ekiti-2Niger-2Ogun-2Akwa Ibom-1 pic.twitter.com/Vykyqt12Ei— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 2, 2021 HighlightsThe Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC On the 2nd of March 2021, confirmed and recorded 479 new cases and 8 deaths in NigeriaTill date, 156496 cases have been confirmed, 134551 cases …

The Japanese government has asked Chinese authorities to stop carrying out anal swab tests for Covid-19 on its citizens because the procedure causes psychological pain.  Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Katsunobu Kato, said some Japanese reported the procedure at the country’s embassy in China.  “Some Japanese reported to our embassy in China that they …

1585 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; 1585 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;Lagos-573FCT-182Plateau-162Gombe-81Oyo-75Rivers-68Sokoto-58Ondo-55Ogun-42Nasarawa-40Akwa Ibom-36Edo-31Kaduna-27Anambra-22Delta-19Kano-17Osun-17Ebonyi-16Katsina-14Niger-14Bayelsa-9EKiti-8Borno-7Jigawa-5Abia-4Bauchi-3 pic.twitter.com/HFBLIBezZu— NCDC (@NCDCgov) January 9, 2021 Highlights The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on January 9, 2020 has recorded 1585 new cases and 8 deaths in the country. Meanwhile, 99063 cases have been confirmed, 79417 cases have been discharged …

The Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom on Saturday said Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, had received COVID-19 vaccinations. According to the BBC, a royal source said the vaccinations were administered by a household doctor at Windsor Castle. The Queen, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, are among …

Ahead of arrival of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, a son-in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari has received a dose of the vaccine. Ahmed Indimi, who is the husband of Zahra Buhari, shared a photo of himself being inoculated against the virus on his Instagram page on Saturday. …

The Nigeria governors of all 36 states have agreed to take the COVID 19 vaccine on live television to help drive acceptance among the populace. The Chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, made this known on Friday in Abuja when he fielded questions from State House Correspondents …

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar was seen in viral social media photos receiving what is believed to be a vaccine against the dreaded coronavirus in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, making him the first known Nigerian to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The photos showed the former vice president being injected …