₦airaland Forum

ABUJA-THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has advised Nigerians against using face shields in place of face masks to prevent COVID-19 spread.


In an advisory it released to the public on Saturday, the centre said its position was against the backdrop of an increasing number of people who it noted, were erroneously using face shields instead of face masks to prevent the spread of the disease.

“An increasing number of people in Nigeria are now using face shields, in the place of face masks, as they become more widely available,” it regretted.

According to NCDC, “The use of face masks for COVID-19 prevention is important, as recent studies indicate that a significant proportion of people who have COVID-19 do not show symptoms (asymptomatic), and the virus can spread before these people know that they are sick(presymptomatic).”


” SARS-CoV-2 which causes the coronavirus disease can spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets, often through speaking, coughing, or sneezing. There is evidence that the correct use of face masks reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection,” it added.

The advisory published by the centre, read thus: “Following evolving evidence on the transmission of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) provided recommendations for the wearing of face masks by the general public.

“This is especially important where there is the ongoing widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as in public transport, markets, and confined or crowded environments. In Nigeria, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 mandated the use of face masks or coverings in public spaces, on the 27th of April 2020.

“An increasing number of people in Nigeria are now using face shields, in the place of face masks, as they become more widely available.

“Face shields are generally used in health care settings by medical professionals to provide barrier protection to the facial area, including the eyes, nose, and lips. Even in healthcare settings, face shields are not meant to function as primary respiratory protection to prevent infection. Face shields are used in combination with the surgical mask or N95 mask by health workers for maximumprotection during invasive procedures such as intubation.

“There are no published studies on the effectiveness of face shields against COVID-19 in non-healthcare settings.The NCDC offers the following guidance to Nigerians on the appropriate use of face masks and face shields:”1. Face masks are very important in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19,especially in situations where physical distancing may be difficult, such as on public transportation, markets and in areas where there is a significant
amount of community transmission.

“2. For effective protection, face shields are used in combination with an appropriate face mask in healthcare settings.3. There is currently limited to no evidence on the effectiveness of face shields to prevent COVID-19 when used alone by the general public in non-healthcare settings.

“There is currently no guidance provided by the WHO or other relevant public health authority that recommends the use of face shields in non-healthcare settings to prevent COVID-19.

“Given the limited evidence on the effectiveness of face shields in protecting people from COVID-19 infection in community settings, and the absence of recommendations on their use, by the WHO and other public health authorities, face shields alone should not be used in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 infection. When used, it should be done in combination with an appropriate face mask.It is important to remember that currently, no single intervention even when properly used, provides complete protection from COVID-19 infection.

“Therefore, the use of face masks or face shields with face masks should be combined with other public health and social measures as announced by the Federal/State Ministries of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. This includes maintaining a distance of two meters between you and the next person, frequent handwashing with soap and running water or use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoiding public gatherings.The NCDC will continue to update its recommendations as knowledge about COVID-19 evolves.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/face-shields-dont-prevent-covid-19-spread-ncdc-warns/

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Wirecard collapsed on Thursday owing creditors almost $4 billion after disclosing a gaping hole in its books that its auditor EY said was the result of a sophisticated global fraud.

The payments company filed for insolvency at a Munich court saying that, with 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) of loans due within a week its survival as a going concern was "not assured".

Wirecard's implosion came just seven days after EY, its auditor for more than a decade, refused to sign off on the 2019 accounts, forcing out Chief Executive Markus Braun and leading it to admit that $2.1 billion of its cash probably didn't exist.

"There are clear indications that this was an elaborate and sophisticated fraud involving multiple parties around the world," EY said in a statement.

EY said while it was completing the 2019 audit, it was provided with false confirmations with regard to escrow accounts and reported them to the relevant authorities.

Wirecard declined to comment following EY's statement.

The financial technology company is the first member of Germany's prestigious DAX stock index to go bust, barely two years after winning a spot among the country's top 30 listed companies with a market valuation of $28 billion.

"The Wirecard case damages corporate Germany. It should be a wake-up call for reforms," said Volker Potthoff, chairman of corporate governance think-tank ArMID.

Creditors have scant hope of getting back the 3.5 billion euros they are owed, sources familiar with the matter said. Of that total, Wirecard has borrowed 1.75 billion from 15 banks and issued 500 million in bonds.

"The money's gone," said one banker. "We may recoup a few euros in a couple of years but will write off the loan now."

'TOTAL DISASTER'

The collapse of Wirecard, once one of the hottest fintech companies in Europe, dwarfs other German corporate failures. It has shaken the country's financial establishment with Felix Hufeld, head of regulator BaFin, calling it a "total disaster".

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz described the collapse as a "scandal", acknowledging it was time to review regulation.

"We must rethink our supervisory structures," said Scholz, adding he had asked his ministry to come up with ideas in the next few days.

"If legal, legislative, regulatory measures are needed, we will embrace them and implement them," he said. "A scandal like Wirecard is a wake-up call that we need more monitoring and oversight than we have today," he said.

Wirecard shares, which were suspended ahead of an earlier announcement that it would seek creditor protection, crashed 80% when trading resumed. They have lost 98% since auditor EY questioned its accounts last Thursday.

EY, one of the world's "Big Four" accountancy and consulting firms, faces a wave of litigation in a debacle that has drawn comparisons with Arthur Andersen's disastrous oversight of U.S. energy company Enron.

German law firm Schirp & Partner said that with Wirecard now effectively sidelined, it would file class actions against EY on behalf of shareholders and bondholders.

"It is frightening how long Wirecard AG was able to operate without being objected to by the auditors," partner Wolfgang Schirp said.

Wirecard's new management had been in crisis talks with creditors but pulled out on Thursday morning "due to impending insolvency and over-indebtedness".

The insolvency filing did not include its Wirecard Bank subsidiary, which holds an estimated 1.4 billion euros in deposits and is already under emergency management by BaFin.

'COMPLETE VINDICATION'

A second source close to talks with creditors said although the company had a healthy core, it had faked two-thirds of its sales. This meant there was no way it could repay all its debt, notwithstanding all the legal challenges it will face.

The ascent of Wirecard, which was founded in 1999 and is based in a Munich suburb, was dogged by allegations from whistleblowers, reporters and speculators that its revenue and profits had been pumped up through fake transactions.

Braun fended off the critics for years before finally calling in outside auditor KPMG late last year to run an independent investigation.

KPMG, which published its findings in April, was unable to verify 1 billion euros in cash balances, questioned Wirecard's acquisition accounting and said it could not trace hundreds of millions in cash advances to merchants.

"Today is a complete vindication for those that exposed the fraud," said Fraser Perring, who bet on a fall in Wirecard's shares and co-authored a 2016 report that alleged fraud.

The Munich prosecutor's office, which is investigating Braun on suspicion of misrepresenting Wirecard's accounts and of market manipulation, said: "We will now look at all possible criminal offences."

Braun was arrested on Monday and released on bail of 5 million euros a day later. Former chief operating officer Jan Marsalek is also under suspicion and believed to be in the Philippines, according to justice officials there.

https://news.yahoo.com/wirecard-files-insolvency-083819193.html

The management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan has faulted the Oyo State Government on its claims that the teaching hospital was given the sum of N118 million out of the N2.7 billion it claimed the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government had spent on COVID-19 pandemic.

The state government through the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo had given the breakdown of the expenses as N370 million for the setting up of the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, Ibadan; N453 million on the security of the state borders; N118 million to provide support for the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan for partnership on testing; N900 million on the provision of palliatives and seedling to residents and farmers.

But the hospital through the Public Relations Officer, Mr Toye Akinrinlola said it didn’t receive any money from Oyo State Government.

Akinrinlola said, “We contacted some officials of Oyo State for clarification on this, but it seems there is a misunderstanding in the difference between the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital Ibadan.”

“It, therefore, behoves the Management of the UCH to put the record straight. We hereby state emphatically that the University College Hospital, Ibadan did not and has not received any monetary donation from the Oyo State Government.”

“The Chief Medical Director of the UCH is a member of the Oyo State COVID 19 task force. He should know if any money was given to UCH outside the 250 pieces of the PPE given to the hospital.

“All other services rendered to Oyo State by UCH have been strictly humanitarian and no financial benefits have accrued to the hospital.”

“The UCH has been able to cope with the rigours of the pandemic through donations from the NCDC (an organ of the Federal Government), some corporate bodies, well-meaning Nigerians, Alumni associations of the hospital, staff and students of the hospital.”

“I, therefore, wish to say once again that the UCH is not in receipt of any N118m as claimed by the Oyo State Government”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/covid-19-uch-denies-receiving-n118m-from-oyo-government/

By Nwafor Sunday
Following the treatment of about 55 COVID-19 patients with Madagascar’s herbal drugs, ‘COVID-Organics’, President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, ordered the presidential task force on COVID-19 to go for the drug.


He advised them to use it for the treatment of covid-19 patients in the country. Disclosing this at the daily briefing of the task force, the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha said, Madagascar donated some of the products to Nigeria through Guinea-Bissau.

He noted that arrangements are ongoing to bring it down to the country.

“The president of Madagascar sent it to Guinea Bissau. Certain allocations have been made to different countries.

“We have an indication of the quantities that have been allocated to Nigeria, and we are supposed to make arrangements to freight it out of Bissau to Nigeria.

“I have received instructions from Mr President to make arrangements to freight it home.”

ON MARCH 16, 20206:54 PMIN CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
Germany’s foreign minister said Monday the rights to coronavirus vaccine research were not for sale, following reports Donald Trump wanted the US to buy exclusive access to a potential vaccine developed by a German biotech firm.

The comments, made in an interview to media group Funke, come as scientists raced to develop a vaccine against the deadly coronavirus that has killed some 6,000 people, seen millions placed under lockdown and devastated global markets.

“German researchers play a leading role in drug and vaccine development and we cannot allow others to seek exclusive results,” Heiko Maas told Funke.

Citing sources close to the German government, Die Welt newspaper had previously reported that Trump had offered “a billion dollars” to secure research into a vaccine by German biotech firm CureVac “only for the United States”.

“Germany is not for sale,” economy minister Peter Altmaier told broadcaster ARD on Sunday, reacting to the report.

At a news conference, interior minister Horst Seehofer was asked to confirm the attempts to court the German company.

“I can only say that I have heard several times today from government officials today that this is the case, and we will be discussing it in the crisis committee tomorrow,” he said.

CureVac said in a statement Sunday that it “abstains from commenting on speculations and rejects allegations about offers for acquisition of the company or its technology”.

– Fury –

The report prompted fury in Berlin.

“International cooperation is important now, not national self-interest,” said Erwin Rueddel, a conservative lawmaker on the German parliament’s health committee.

A US official told AFP Sunday that the report was “wildly overplayed”.

“The US government has spoken with many (more than 25) companies that claim they can help with a vaccine. Most of these companies already received seed funding from US investors.”

The official also denied that the US was seeking to keep any potential vaccine for itself.

– ‘Take action’ –

CureVac, founded in 2000, is based in the German state of Thuringia, and has other sites in Frankfurt and Boston.

The firm markets itself as specialising in “development of treatments against cancer, antibody-based therapies, treatment of rare illnesses and prophylactic vaccines”.

The lab is currently working in tandem with the Paul-Ehrlich Institute, linked to the German health ministry.

Last week, the firm mysteriously announced that CEO Daniel Menichella had been replaced by Ingmar Hoerr, just weeks after Menichella met with Trump, his vice president Mike Pence and representatives of pharma companies in Washington.

“We are very confident that we will be able to develop a potent vaccine candidate within a few months,” CureVac quoted Menichella as saying on its website shortly after the visit.

On Sunday, CureVac investors said that they would not sell the vaccine to a single state.

“If we are successful in developing an effective vaccine, then it should help and protect people across the world,” said Dietmar Hopp, head of principal investor dievini Hopp Biotech Holding, in a statement.



Economy minister Altmaier welcomed the statement, saying it was a “fantastic decision”.

He also pointed out that the government has the power to scrutinise foreign takeovers, saying that “where important infrastructure and national and European interests are concerned, we will take action if we have to.

ON JANUARY 26, 20201:12 PMIN NEWS
Tragedy struck in Bauchi on Friday when a jealous man, simply identified as ‘Solomon’ stabbed his girlfriend, Patience Zakkari, to death for picking a phone call from another man.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent reports that the incident occurred around 1.30 am in the house of the deceased located at gwallameji area of Bauchi metropolis.

Narrating to NAN how it happened, a source who pleaded anonymity recounted how the deceased narrated the incident to him before she gave up the ghost.

He explained that the deceased and her boyfriend (Solomon) who were popularly known to be in a romantic relationship by most people in the area, had a heated argument when the deceased received a phone call from a male friend in the middle of the night.

“She narrated to me before she died that everything happened at about 1:30 am on Friday morning.

“She said she received a phone call from just an ordinary male friend and her boyfriend (Solomon) got jealous, started harassing her verbally, and that as she was trying to explain to him, he pounced on her and started hitting her.

“She took a bottle, hit him on the head in self defence because the beating was too much for her, and the man picked up a knife in response and stabbed her at the back.

“She said she lost a lot of blood before she was rushed to a clinic in the morning where she was treated and brought back home in the evening, when she narrated the incident to me.

“Unfortunately, when I left the place, I heard that the wound degenerated and she was rushed to a hospital where she eventually gave up,” narrated the source.

Another source, Mercy Cirfat, told NAN that Solomon, who was living two blocks away from his girlfriend’s, had taken to his heels after carrying out the heinous act, and is now at large.

She said that the deceased was a National Diploma (ND) graduate from the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

DSP Kamal Abubakar, the state Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the incident to NAN, adding that the owner of the clinic where she died, had been arrested.

He also assured that the command was on the trail of the culprit and would soon be apprehended to face the wrath of the law.

“When the incident happened, without informing the police, her friends took her to a clinic for treatment because the boyfriend stabbed her twice.

“However, the clinic also treated her without informing the police and discharged her the same day.

“When the thing became worse, they took her back to the clinic where she was put on a drip and eventually gave up.

“We have arrested the owner of the clinic and the staff that treated her because they did not inform the police.

“We have swung into action and the case is under investigation; we are on the trail of the suspect and anybody involved; they will all be brought to justice,” said the PPRO.

President Muhammadu Buhari has explained that 35 aides were not sacked from the Office of the Vice President instead they were redeployed to a new ministry.

The President who fielded questions from NTA State House Correspondent at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, upon his return from a private visit from the United Kingdom described the interpretations of his directives as a sack as ‘unfortunate’.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: President Buhari returns to Nigeria after ‘private visit to London
The President described what happened as a re-organisation and not a sacking, stressing that, a new ministry has recently been created, that is, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

“They said 35 people were sacked in the Vice President’s office but we just created a ministry and we reorganized but people are giving it an ethnic and political dimension. It is unfortunate,” the President said.

It would be recalled that while media report had widely reported the sack of 35 aides including the circulation of a list of those sacked, informed sources insisted that what the President directed was a redeployment and not a sack.

The President’s comment in the NTA interview last night on arrival from his UK private trip indicated that although some Presidential aides had confirmed the sacking of 35 aides, the President only gave express instructions for redeployment to ministries not sacking.

Meanwhile, President Buhari assured Nigerians that he was more energized and ready for work. “We are going to work harder to be accountable and try to make Nigerians see why we do certain things. Accountability from bottom to top is absolutely necessary,” he said.

It would be recalled that some people had reported and claimed that President Buhari had sacked 35 aides in the Office of the Vice President to whittle down the powers and influence of the Vice President.

Some also claimed that the sacking of the 35 aides were to reduce the influence of the Vice President ahead of 2023 elections and were masterminded by a certain cabal with the Presidency.

The Presidency has however always maintained that the President and his deputy, Prof Osinbajo enjoy a very good relationship.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatsApp-Video-2019-11-16-at-16.00.56.mp4

08064400476

ON OCTOBER 5, 20194:02 AMIN NEWS, POLITICSBY UROWAYINO JEREMIAH
FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsAppPinterestShare
By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa



After weeks of speculations, bickering and intrigues within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa, the peace of the State House of Assembly was desecrated last Monday with its Speaker, Rt. Hon, Tonye Emmanuel Isenah, ousted in what could best be described as a palace coup.

The assembly, which prided itself as an oasis of peace had enjoyed relative stability in the last eight years until the recent change of leadership in a controversial circumstance.


Genesis of crisis

Though many saw Isenah’s travail as self inflicted, having allegedly agreed to a gentleman agreement reached by the leadership of the Restoration Caucus of the PDP, a camp he was an active member, to serve for three months and step aside as part of the political permutation, should the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate come from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Saturday Vanguard learned that given the voting strength of the area, it was the resolution of the party leaders to cede the Speakership of the House to Hon Monday Obolo representing Southern Ijaw II, who is also a ranking legislator, (third termer) like Isenah.

According to assembly sources, Isenah, having enjoyed the peck and glamour of the office of Speaker as the number three citizen in the predominantly riverine state where politics is the only thriving industry, reneged on the agreement reached and instead chose to carry on as Speaker.

This, according to an insider, angered the powers that be within his party who orchestrated his removal.



Farewell

It was however learned that following the intense pressure brought on him to resign as speaker by some PDP leaders, Isenah penultimate Friday had a farewell meeting with staff of the assembly in a show of readiness to vacate his position when the House resumed sitting on Monday.

The source said: “Isenah hinted of his resignation while addressing staff of the Assembly after presiding over plenary on Friday.” He was quoted telling staff of the State House Assembly that the meeting with them may be the last in his position as Speaker.

“He was said to have reached an agreement with Dickson and other PDP leaders to vacate his office in the event that Senator Douye Diri, who hails from his Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, emerged the candidate of the PDP for the election.

“Following the emergence of Diri, PDP leaders were said to have asked Isenah to surrender his position to another lawmaker from Southern Ijaw to enable the party garner votes from the council.

“Hon. Monday Obolo was primed to succeed Isenah in an arrangement aimed at assuaging the people of the Southern Ijaw area where the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief David Lyon hails from. The idea is to ensure that Hon, Obolo influence robs off on the PDP and whittle down the high expectation of massive votes for the APC in the council area,” the source said.

Broken Promise

But Isenah to the surprise of many did not resign when the House reconvened on Monday. Instead, he adjourned the House sitting sine die, and escorted out of the chamber by the sergeant at arm. Five other members of the House left with him.

An insider told Saturday Vanguard that the Speaker had fourteen members of the House on his side and that this might have encouraged him to want to assert his authority. “But he was let down by some he thought were with him,” the source said.

Confusion

All hell was let loose following the alarm that the mace of the House, its symbol of authority had been taken away by the embattled speaker. Gunshots rented the air as staff and journalists who had been ordered out of the chamber so as not to witness the sitting scampered for safety.

Surprisingly, 18 members led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Abraham Ngobere representing Brass III stayed back, brought out another mace and moved for the impeachment of Isenah.

Saturday Vanguard learned that contrary to claim that the new mace was brought in from the Yenagoa local government council legislative arm, the Bayelsa Assembly had three. The one used belonged to it. The Deputy Speaker asked if there was any member with any matter of urgent public importance and Hon Bernard Kenebai representing Sagbama II signified by saying yes and moved for the impeachment of the Speaker over alleged gross misconduct and dereliction of duty. The motion was supported by a unanimous voice votes from members.

Hon Ngobere immediately called for the nomination of a new Speaker and Hon. Oboku Oforji representing Yenagoa I moved for the nomination of Hon. Monday Obolo as Speaker of the State House of Assembly which was seconded by Hon. Naomi Igoli representing Ogbia constituency III.



I remain the speaker — Isenah

But Isenah, who is yet to see how relinquishing his office would make the PDP win the coming poll dismissed report of his impeachment saying he remained the speaker of the Assembly having successfully presided over its sitting and adjourned sine die and escorted out by the Sergeant at arm.

He said any member who sat back to do anything “was on illegal duty.”

“I went to the house, all members entered the chambers for our sitting, after addressing the house, as the presiding officer, I announced the recess, so the house is on recess.

“In the house that is adjourned, nothing is to be done in that house until we reconvene again, I presided over the house as a Speaker, I did not preside as impeached Speaker or Speaker that resigned, I presided as authentic speaker of the house and I have adjourned the house.

“Anything that happens in that house without me reconvening the house is illegal, and it remains an illegality, that is what I want all Bayelsans and Nigerians to know. Constitutionally, legislature is an independent arm of government, and that arm needs to be respected and the ideals of separation of power need to be respected, that house has been adjourned.

“Nobody can reconvene that house except me, but if anybody sits to do anything, it is an illegality, I’m not a violent person.

“I never had any arrangement with anybody to resign after three months as a Speaker. At the appropriate time, I will address Bayelsans and tell them what transpired. I never had an arrangement to resign, if there was such agreement, they should bring document about that.”



I am the new speaker – Obolo

Also speaking after his emergence, the newly elected Speaker, Hon. Monday Obolo denied the alleged disappearance of the mace of the House.

“The House of Assembly is a one united family. It is an honour to have me elected to lead the Sixth Assembly. We are meant to debate and 18 members elected me. Bayelsa should expect the dividends of democracy,” he said.

Tonye Isenah, representing Kolokuma-Opokuma I, a ranking legislator (third term) emerged as speaker at the first inaugural sitting of the sixth Assembly through unanimous decision, after being nominated by Hon Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai representing Yenagoa II and seconded by Hon Mitema Obordor representing Ogbia II.

No fewer than ten police patrol vehicles were stationed outside the assembly complex Thursday morning with operatives of the anti bomb and counter terrorism units of the state police command seen frisking staff and visitors as well as searching vehicles going into the premises.

My name is kelly
I would like to connect with you..
08064400476

08064400476

08064400476

08064400476

08064400476

08064400476

Kelly
08064400476
Male
Ator Kelly

08064400476

Add me up. . . .
08064400476