Some of the family of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Boss Mustapha, have tested positive for the virus.
He announced this in a statement that he personally issued in Abuja on Sunday night.
The SGF informed that they tested positive on Saturday and are presently asymptomatic.
According to him, both himself and wife, however, tested negative.
He said in the statement: “I would like to inform the general public that some of my household tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday evening.
Although they are currently asymptomatic, they have been isolated and are receiving care in one of the government treatment centres.
“My wife and I tested negative but will remain in self-isolation and work from home according to protocols by the health authorities.
“I would like to remind all Nigerians that COVID-19 is real. As the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced last week, we are recording an increase in cases across several states.
“Please stay safe and protect yourself. Adhere to all public health and safety measures so that we do not lose the gains we have made in the fight against COVID-19.
“As a family, we covet your prayers. Please take responsibility for yourself and protect our country!”
Highlights
On the 12th of December 2020, 617 new confirmed cases and 4 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
The 617 new cases are reported from 15 states- Lagos (225), FCT (181), Kaduna (125), Adamawa (25), Nasarawa (20), Kano (12), Rivers ( 8 ), Edo (4), Ekiti (4), Bayelsa (3), Ogun (3), Plateau (3), Akwa Ibom (2), Delta (1) and Sokoto (1).
Till date, 72,757 cases have been confirmed, 65,850 cases have been discharged and 1,194 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities.
Following Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s exposure to a confirmed case of #COVID19, a PCR test performed yesterday the 11th of December has confirmed that he has indeed been infected with the virus which is ed by mild symptoms and fatigue typical of a mild case of #COVID19 Mr Governor is receiving treatment and is being closely monitored at home by the very experienced State #COVID19 clinical team from IDH Yaba.
Mr Sanwo-Olu is doing well on treatment and rest and we are confident that he will recover quickly and clear the virus. We are seeing slightly increasing number of #COVID19 positive cases in clusters in Lagos and all residents and visitors should strictly adhere to the prescribed advisories of safe distancing, mask wearing, good hand and respiratory hygiene and avoidance of unnecessary or large gatherings.
The festive season is likely to create the opportunity for the virus to spread if we are not compliant with the regulations established by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) for inbound travellers
Highlights
On the 11th of December 2020, 796 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 72,140 cases have been confirmed, 65,712 cases have been discharged and 1,190 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 796 new cases are reported from 16 states- FCT (258), Lagos (248), Kaduna (117), Katsina (52), Ogun (27), Kwara (23), Gombe (22), Adamawa (17), Plateau (15), Kano (6), Rivers (2), Ondo (2), Ekiti (2), Nasarawa (2), Sokoto (2) and Taraba (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
FLASH: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) will go into self-isolation immediately, after one of his close aides tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday (10th of December).
#COVID19Lagos
Mr. Governor and other of his team will be tested by the Lagos State biobank today but will remain in isolation until the results of the tests are available.
We are seeing slightly increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases in clusters in Lagos and all Lagosians should adhere to the prescribed advisories of safe distancing, good hand and respiratory hygiene and avoidance of unnecessary gatherings.
This is not the first time Mr. Governor is having the COVID-19 test. He has had at least three since May when he announced that 10 of his aides had tested positive for the virus.
Signed
Professor Akin Abayomi
Honourable Commissioner for Health
Highlights
On the 10th of December 2020, 675 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 71,344 cases have been confirmed, 65,474 cases have been discharged and 1,190 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 675 new cases are reported from 16 states- FCT (183), Lagos (128), Kaduna (85), Kwara (57), Katsina (50), Plateau (42), Rivers (39), Kano (33), Ondo (21), Ogun (17), Bauchi (10), Sokoto (5), Edo (2), Ekiti (1), Bayelsa (1), and Delta(1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
The General Officer Commanding 6th Division, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj-Gen. Johnson Olu Irefin has reportedly died of complications associated with the Coronavirus pandemic.
The sudden death of Irefin, who assumed the command of the division in July 2020 replacing Maj.-Gen. Felix Agugo, was said to have thrown the army into mourning.
Though the Army Public Relations Officer, Maj. Charles Ekeocha, kept mum over the development, a senior military officer from Abuja confirmed it describing his death as shocking.
He said: “One of our fine officers is dead. He is the GOC 6th Division. He died in Abuja after developing complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”
Prior to assuming the command of the 6 Division and Land Component Commander Operation Delta Safe, Port Harcourt Barracks, Irefin was the immediate-past GOC 81 Division Nigerian Army Lagos.
The ongoing Chief of Army Staff Conference, Thursday, came to an abrupt end after one of the participating senior Army Officers tested positive for COVID-19.
All participants have been mandated by the Nigerian Army authority to immediately proceed on self-isolation.
Also, the number of guests earlier invited for the wedding of the son of the Chief of Army Staff, Mr. Hamisu Tukur Buratai, have been pruned down with total exclusion of all the officers who were at the conference .
According to a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sagir Musa, “the Nigerian Army wishes to inform of the public that due to resurgence of COVID-19 Pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on Tuesday 8 December 2020, where an officer participating in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2020 here in Abuja tested positive for COVID-19.
“The remaining activities of the conference have therefore been immediately cancelled. All the participants have been mandated to immediately proceed on self-isolation in line with the Federal Government’s protocol for COVID 19 and to prevent any further spread of the disease”.
A separate statement, also signed by Musa, read, “this is to inform Your Excellencies, Your Royal Highnesses, Distinguished Senators, Honourable , respected elders, Friends, brothers, sisters and other invited guests that due to resurgence of COVID-19 Pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on Tuesday 8 December 2020, where an officer participating in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 here in Abuja tested positive to COVID-19, the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen TY Buratai wishes to inform all dignitaries and other invited guests that activities earlier scheduled for the wedding of his son Mr. Hamisu Tukur Buratai will proceed as arranged albeit pruned down without the participation of all those who were at the conference.”
Highlights
On the 9th of December 2020, 474 new confirmed cases and 2 deaths was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 70,669 cases have been confirmed, 65,242 cases have been discharged and 1,184 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 474 new cases are reported from 16 states- FCT (180), Lagos (134), Kebbi (45), Adamawa (26), Plateau (16), Enugu (14), Taraba (14), Gombe (12), Nasarawa (, Yobe (, Rivers (5), Ogun (5), Kwara (2), Ekiti (2), Sokoto (2), Osun (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Highlights
On the 8th of December 2020, 550 new confirmed cases and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 70,195 cases have been confirmed, 65,110 cases have been discharged and 1,182 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 550 new cases are reported from 17 states- Lagos (219), FCT (168), Kaduna (52), Kwara (19), Kano (15), Rivers (15), Sokoto (10), Enugu(9), Gombe ( 8 ), Plateau (7), Osun (7), Anambra (5), Oyo (5), Jigawa (4), Ogun (4), Bauchi (2) and Edo (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Four Lions at Barcelona Zoo in Spain have tested positive for coronavirus, veterinary officials say.
Three females named Zala, Nima and Run Run and one male called Kiumbe were tested after displaying mild symptoms.
Two staff also tested positive for the virus, the zoo said.
An investigation is under way to establish how the animals became infected, but it is thought they may have been in with an asymptomatic member of staff.
Zookeepers reportedly carried out a standard PCR swab test on the four lions - the same method used on humans - because they are comfortable having close with staff.
The animals had been showing upper respiratory symptoms, according to an earlier statement from the zoo. Most symptoms have disappeared other than minor coughing and sneezing.
They are being treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and monitored closely. "The lions were given veterinary care for their mild clinical condition - similar to a very mild flu condition - and [they] responded well," a statement said.
Some of the famous zoo's animals have begun to notice the lack of visitors
Video captionSome of the famous zoo's animals have begun to notice the lack of visitors
It is only the second known case in which large felines have contracted coronavirus.
Staff at Barcelona Zoo ed colleagues at the Bronx Zoo in the US, where the first known case was recorded in April when four tigers and three lions tested positive for coronavirus.
One of the tigers, Nadia, is believed to be the first known case of an animal becoming infected with Covid-19 in the US.
All of the animals at the Bronx Zoo made a full recovery.
The risk of infection between zoo animals and visitors, meanwhile, is low became of a lack of proximity. "Simply, no one who comes to see [the lions] gets close enough," the Barcelona Zoo statement said.
Highlights
On the 7th of December 2020, 390 new confirmed cases and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 69,645 cases have been confirmed, 64,947 cases have been discharged and 1,181 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 390 new cases are reported from 20 states- FCT (89), Gombe (89), Kaduna (62), Lagos (35), Kwara (15), Borno (13), Nasarawa (10), Rivers (10), Bauchi (, Ogun (, Osun (7), Bayelsa (7), Kano (7), Edo (6), Taraba (6), Ekiti (5), Katsina (5), Akwa Ibom (4), Delta (3) and Sokoto (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Traditional Indian wedding finery gave way to hazmat suits and masks in a remote north Indian village, after the bride tested positive for the coronavirus just hours before her marriage, a local health official said.
The couple, whose names were not made public, decided to go ahead with the ceremony on Sunday in the courtyard of the COVID quarantine centre in Baran in the western state of Rajasthan - their protective gear giving it an otherworldly feel.
Under a bright red canopy and in front of the holy fire, the bride and groom exchanged garlands wearing matching blue hazmat suits, visors and face masks.
The priest, looking like an astronaut in a white hazmat suit and matching hood, chanted verses from Hindu scriptures while traditional wedding songs played in the background.
The bride had been itted to the centre, where patients are kept under watch, after she and a family member tested positive, health official Rajendra Meena told Reuters partner ANI.
"We consulted with the families and they agreed to get married in the quarantine centre without any elaborate rituals," he said. Afterwards, both bride and groom were placed in isolation at the centre, part of a network of quarantine facilities set up in almost every village.
Weddings in India are often an elaborate and noisy affair, with hordes of relatives and other guests taking part in celebrations. But several states have imposed restrictions around numbers allowed at marriage gatherings.
India has the world's second highest COVID-19 caseload after the United States, with over 9.6 million confirmed cases.
Infections have fallen since hitting a peak in September in spite of a busy festival season last month, which saw bustling markets and crowded streets full of shoppers.
Highlights
On the 6th of December 2020, 318 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 69,255 cases have been confirmed, 64,774 cases have been discharged and 1,180 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 318 new cases are reported from 14 states- Lagos (104), Kaduna (59), FCT (50), Rivers (17), Ogun (16), Kano (14), Nasarawa (14), Akwa Ibom (10), Katsina (10), Edo (7), Oyo (5), Sokoto (5), Plateau (4), Taraba (3)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Highlights
On the 5th of December 2020, 310 new confirmed cases and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 68,937 cases have been confirmed, 64,650 cases have been discharged and 1,180 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 310 new cases are reported from 12 states- FCT (128), Lagos (86), Kaduna (26), Katsina (20), Rivers (19), Oyo (7), Benue (5), Edo (5), Jigawa (5), Ogun (5), Bayelsa (2) and Kano (2)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Highlights
On the 4th of December 2020, 324 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 68,627 cases have been confirmed, 64,467 cases have been discharged and 1,179 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 324 new cases are reported from 11 states- Lagos (115), FCT (110), Kaduna (57), Taraba (9), Akwa Ibom (, Plateau (6), Bauchi (4), Ekiti (4), Kano(4), Katsina (4) and Rivers (3)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
On the 4th of December 2020, 324 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 68,627 cases have been confirmed, 64,467 cases have been discharged and 1,179 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
Highlights
On the 3rd of December 2020, 343 new confirmed cases and 2 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 68,303 cases have been confirmed, 64,291 cases have been discharged and 1,179 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 343 new cases are reported from 14 states- FCT (123) Lagos (106) Kaduna (72) Nasarawa (14) Rivers(5), Bauchi (4), Imo (4), Ogun (4), Ekiti (3) Edo (2), Oyo (2), Plateau (2) Akwa Ibom (1) and Kano (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, a leading advocate of European integration who led his country into a new modern era, has died of Covid-19, his family said. He was 94.
Giscard, who had been in hospital several times in recent months for heart problems, died late Wednesday "surrounded by his family" at the family home in the Loire region.
"His state of health had worsened and he died as a consequence of Covid-19," the family said in a statement sent to AFP, adding that his funeral would be strictly private, according to his wishes.
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to his predecessor, saying Giscard's seven-year term had "transformed ".
"His death has plunged the French nation into mourning", Macron said, describing Giscard as "a servant of the state, a politician of progress and freedom".
Giscard made one of his last public appearances on September 30 last year for the funeral of another former president, Jacques Chirac, who had been his prime minister.
He became the 20th century's youngest president at 48 when in 1974 he beat his Socialist rival Francois Mitterrand, to whom he then lost after his seven-year term in 1981 in a failed re-election bid.
His presidency marked a clear break from the Gaullist conservatism of postwar , which had been dominated by Charles de Gaulle and his successor Georges Pompidou.
In , he is ed for his radical reform drive, which included the legalisation of abortion, the liberalisation of divorce and the lowering of the voting age to 18.
In Europe, he helped drive moves towards a monetary union, in close cooperation with his German counterpart chancellor Helmut Schmidt, with whom he became friends and whose leadership years almost overlapped with his own.
Together they launched the European Monetary System (EMS), a precursor of today's single currency, the euro.
"For Valery Giscard d'Estaing, Europe was to be a French ambition and a modern nation. Respect," said Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator.
He "succeeded in modernising political life in ," added former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, praising the "great intelligence" he used to master "even the most complex international problems".
Like Schmidt, Giscard was also a firm believer in strong ties with the US.
With his death, "has lost a statesman who chose to open up to the world", added Sarkozy's Socialist successor Francois Hollande. He hailed a man who was "resolutely European" who helped strengthen Franco-German unity.
It was at Giscard's initiative that leaders of the world's richest countries first met in 1975, an event that evolved into the annual summits of the Group of Seven (G7) club.
- 'A job unfinished' -
With a more relaxed presidential style than his predecessors, "VGE" was sometimes seen in public playing football or the accordion.
He also hosted garbage collectors to breakfast and invited himself to dinner at the homes of ordinary citizens.
Giscard involved his family in his political appearances, had the blue and red of 's "tricolore" flag toned down, and the Marseillaise national anthem slowed.
Giscard was firmly part of the elite.
Tall and slender and with an elegant, aristocratic manner, he studied at 's exclusive Ecole Polytechnique and the National istration School.
Aged just 18, he ed the French resistance in World War II and took part in the liberation of Paris from its Nazi occupiers in 1944. He then served for eight months in and Austria.
He launched his political career in 1959, becoming finance minister in 1969.
After his defeat in 1981 -- which he said left him with "frustration at a job unfinished" -- he remained active in centrist politics, first regaining a seat in the French parliament and then serving in the European Parliament.
In 2001, he was selected by European leaders to lead work on the bloc's constitutional treaty -- which French voters then rejected.
After losing his legislative seat, he ended his active political career in 2004.
The death of Mitterrand in 1996 followed by that of his successor Chirac in 2019 had left Giscard as 's oldest surviving leader by far.
In May 2020, French prosecutors opened an investigation after claims by a German reporter that he had repeatedly inappropriately touched her at his Paris office after an interview in 2018.
But Giscard strongly denied the allegations, describing them as "grotesque".
Highlights
On the 2nd of December 2020, 122 new confirmed cases and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 67,960 cases have been confirmed, 63,839 cases have been discharged and 1,177 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 122 new cases are reported from 11 states- Kaduna (37) Lagos (29 ), Plateau (25), Ekiti (9), Rivers (5), Ogun (5), Edo (4) Kwara (4), Bayelsa (2), Bauchi (1), and Kano (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Vaccine to be made available across UK from next week, says government.
The UK on Wednesday became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use and said that it will be rolled out from next week.
“The Government has today accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use,” the government said.
“The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the programme would begin early next week.
Highlights
On the 1st of December 2020, 281 new confirmed cases and 3 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 67,838 cases have been confirmed, 63,430 cases have been discharged and 1,176 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 281 new cases are reported from 13 states- Lagos (123), FCT (64), Kaduna (38), Imo (15), Rivers (11), Plateau (, Ogun (5), Bayelsa (4), Kwara (4), Bauchi (3), Edo (3), Kano (2) and Osun (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Six graduates taking part in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abia State have reportedly tested positive for Coronavirus.
This was disclosed by the State Information Commissioner, John Okiyi-Kalu on Tuesday in a press statement while reacting to a social media report on the mandatory testing of Corps posted to the state by the COVID-19 team before they were allowed entry into the orientation camp in Bende LGA.
Okiyi-Kalu said that the discovery was made by the state’s surveillance team on COVID-19.
According to the commissioner, the State government is ing the NYSC medical team with the state’s medical team; epidemiology, Surveillance and rapid response personnel.
Okiyi-Kalu said that the six persons have been treated and discharged in line with the COVID-19 guidelines.
He reaffirmed the position of the state government on compulsory testing and carrying surveillance (on suspected cases) during and after the camping period.
The statement read “Our attention has been drawn to social media publications regarding the ongoing compulsory testing for COVID-19 of all potential National Youth Service Corps in the state prior to camping.
“We wish to state that the State Government is fully ing the Corps with our epidemiology, surveillance and rapid response teams.
“So far, we have recorded only six positive cases of the disease among those tested and they have been managed and/or discharged as applicable.
“Testing and surveillance processes continue throughout the camping period and beyond.”
Highlights
On the 30th of November 2020, 145 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 67,557 cases have been confirmed, 63,282 cases have been discharged and 1,173 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 145 new cases are reported from 8 states- Lagos (49), FCT (34), Kaduna (34), Plateau (11), Oyo (7), Bayelsa (5), Taraba (4) and Sokoto (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
No fewer than 105 persons tested positive for HIV in Ogun State during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, stated this at a press briefing to mark the 2020 World AIDS Day, with the theme, ‘United to end AIDS in the midst of COVID-19.’
Coker said statistics showed that 20,827 people were living with HIV in the state.
According to her, with the figure, the state has the highest prevalence of the virus in South-West states.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Dr Nafiu Aigoro, said the 20,827 patients had been placed on Anti-Retroviral Treatment to keep the HIV under control.
She explained that Ogun State had the prevalence rate of 1.6 per cent.
According to her, HIV prevalence rate in other states include, Lagos – 1.4 per cent; Ondo – 1.1 per cent; Oyo – 0.9 per cent and Osun – 0.9 per cent
While speaking on the drivers of the HIV epidemic in the state, the commissioner attributed it to poverty, low literacy level, stigma and discrimination, low political will, low use of condom and risky sexual behaviour.
She, however, blamed the prevalence on the state’s proximity to the international borders, as well as the influx of people into the state from Lagos and other states for commercial purposes.
Coker said “The first case of HIV and AIDS in Ogun State was reported in 1990. In 1999, when the first HIV/AIDS zero-prevalence sentinel survey was carried out, the prevalence rate was 2.5 per cent.
“In 2001, it rose to 3.5 per cent and recorded a drop in 2003 to 1.5 per cent and a rise again to 3.6 per cent in 2005. In 2008, it dropped to 1.7 per cent in 2010, it was 3.1 per cent, in 2012 (NARHS) the prevalence was 2.9 per cent.”
The Executive Director of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Kehinde Fatugase, while lamenting that no disease had lasted three decades like HIV, called for more global efforts towards combating the disease.
Highlights
On the 29th of November 2020, 82 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 67,412 cases have been confirmed, 63,055 cases have been discharged and 1,173 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 82 new cases are reported from 11 states- Lagos (48), Rivers (, Kwara (6), Yobe(6), Katsina (5), FCT(3), Nasarawa(2), Plateau (1), Ogun (1), Kano (1) and Osun(1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
A woman who was pregnant when infected with COVID has reportedly given her child antibodies against the virus.
To date, the active virus has not been found in samples of fluid around babies in the womb or in breast milk
A Singaporean woman who was pregnant when she was infected with coronavirus in March has reportedly given birth to a baby with antibodies against the disease, offering a new clue as to whether the infection can be transferred from mother to child.
The baby, who was was born this month, does not have COVID-19 but has the virus antibodies, the Straits Times newspaper reported on Sunday, citing the mother.
“My doctor suspects I have transferred my COVID-19 antibodies to him during my pregnancy,” Celine Ng-Chan told the paper.
Ng-Chan had been mildly ill from the disease and was discharged from hospital after two and a half weeks, it said.
Ng-Chan and the National University Hospital, where she gave birth, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Rare transmission
The World Health Organization says it is not yet known whether a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can the virus to her fetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery.
To date, the active virus has not been found in samples of fluid around babies in the womb or in breast milk.
Doctors in China have reported the detection and decline over time of COVID-19 antibodies in babies born to women with coronavirus, according to an article published in October in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Transmission of the coronavirus from mothers to newborns is rare, doctors from New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center reported in October in JAMA Pediatrics.
While Singapore has recorded just slightly more than 58,000 COVID infections, there are over 62.2 million infections around the world today, with at least 1.45 million reported deaths, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
Highlights
On the 28th of November 2020, 110 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 67,330 cases have been confirmed, 62,819 cases have been discharged and 1,171 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 110 new cases are reported from 11 states- Lagos (26), FCT (23), Kaduna (20), Katsina (11), Ogun (7), Ekiti (6), Plateau (5), Rivers (4) Kano (3) , Nasarawa (3) and Niger (2)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Highlights
On the 27th of November 2020, 246 new confirmed cases and 2 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 67,220 cases have been confirmed, 62,686 cases have been discharged and 1,171 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 246 new cases are reported from 10 states- Lagos (81), FCT (73), Plateau(39), Kaduna (25), Ogun (13), Bauchi (5), Rivers (4) Ekiti (2), Taraba (2) and Kano (2)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Highlights
On the 26th of November 2020, 169 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 66,974 cases have been confirmed, 62,585 cases have been discharged and 1,169 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 169 new cases are reported from 12 states- Kaduna (74), FCT (42), Lagos (17), Kano (, Ogun (6), Oyo (6), Rivers (6), Ekiti (3), Bauchi (3), Katsina (2), Delta (1) and Ondo (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
Some nursing mothers at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, yesterday decried alleged inhuman treatment melted on them by the hospital management, claiming they were evicted from the hospital lodge without prior notice.
Meanwhile, the hospital management has denied the allegation, saying, they were only protecting them from being exposed to COVID-19 as the area in question was being rearranged for COVID-19 patients’ management,
In a video clip made available to Vanguard, the mothers alleged that the management of the hospital evicted them from a lodge which they pay on a daily basis to stay and watch over their babies.
One of the mothers, who spoke to Vanguard under anonymity for fear of victimization, said that they were evicted from where they use to sleep without any notice.
“Mothers of newborn babies with medical issues that need to be rectified are required to stay very close to their babies. Due to the fact that some of these mothers are coming from a far place, they need to sleep somewhere pending the time their babies will be okay.
“This morning at LUTH without any notice, these mothers were thrown out of where they use to sleep without any notice.
As of yesterday, they were still collecting money from us. No notice was given to mothers that they should stop payment for where they are sleeping, we just wake up today and we were evicted.
Regrettably, in LUTH, no adequate arrangement for mothers with newborn babies, don’t forget that these women just gave birth, some of them through Caesarean section, CS, they have nowhere to stay, then the ridiculous accommodation that has been provided is suddenly taken without notice, where will they go if it rains over the night? Will they sleep under the rain?” she added.
Reacting to the allegation, the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof Chris Bode dismissed the claims saying the mothers were given adequate notice that the area was being arranged for COVID-19 patients management.
“There is a hospice in LUTH where people who do not have a place to stay can stay. We are in the process of preparing a place for our COVID-19 patients who will move into the place and we cannot allow people who do not have COVID- 19 to be exposed to that. This was explained to them you can call the CMAC to ask him.
“This place call a hospice is within LUTH with beds and a toilet facility is there and that place is made for people who cannot go home. She cannot say we are not taking care of their babies. We don’t want them to catch COVID-19.
On his part, the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, Professor Wasiu Adeyemo described the allegation as baseless, adding that, the hospital was not evicting anybody.
“There is rearrangement that is ongoing around the area. We are moving the COVID-19 ward to another location so as to enable the hospital to accommodate more patients.
“If you look at some of the allegations, for instance, the complaint that the condition of that place was not good, are they not the ones littering the place?
The issue is that we want to relocate the ward for covid-19 management, because the ward has 120 beds whereas the number of COVID-19 patients has reduced, instead of sending patients away due to lack of enough space we decided to make an adjustment to accommodate new patients.
“Six mothers have written to us as regards the relocation and we assured them that we are going to resolve it so I don’t know why they are still making a fake video. The part they recorded was not that of nursing mothers but patients’ relatives.
You know we have a challenge in Nigeria whereby a patient is itted, about four relatives will come that they want to stay with the patient. Are we going to provide accommodation for all of them? We have places they can actually lodge but they refused to lodge because of the stipend they will demand from them, but we still accommodate them in that place.
“We are not running a hotel, we cannot create a Ward for the patient and still create another ward for relations. The people sleeping on the floor are relatives that are not needed in the hospital.
It is true that nursing mothers need to be around because of their babies, we have a lodge where they can stay but they don’t want to pay for lodging and yet we still show understanding by accommodating them in that place which was donated to the hospital by an individual.”
Adeyemo, however, told Vanguard that the problem has been resolved as of press time.
By December 2020 and January 2021, it is expected that there will be a baby boom in Niger State as a result of large numbers of women that were stuck at home with partners but also lost access to family planning due to COVID-19 restrictions.
JUSTINA ASISHANA reports on the wave of COVID-19 pregnancies.
“I did not prepare for this pregnancy; it came unexpectedly. I think I got pregnant in April during the lockdown. It was not prepared for because I was planning on giving myself about three years before giving birth but this came”, Halima Yabagi, who was on an ante-natal visit to the Paiko Town Clinic in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State told our reporter.
According to her, she had missed her dose of Depo shot in March when the restriction of movement was announced and strictly enforced in the state.
The depo shot, also known as Depo-Provera, is a child-spacing shot (injectable) a woman gets once every three months.
Halima explained that when the lockdown was lifted, she rushed to the hospital to get another shot but was told she will have to undertake a pregnancy test before any shot can be given to her.
“So, they carried out the test and it was discovered that I was pregnant. What can one do? I just have to accept my fate. After all, I cannot refuse my husband when he needs me and being together day and night, indoors, I guess it was inevitable,” she said.
The three-month-stay-at-home order by the federal and state governments hindered access to health facilities that offered contraceptives and family planning services leaving the women vulnerable to pregnancy as a result of increased intimacy with their partners.
According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018, contraceptive prevalence rate (R) among married women from age 15 to 49 is 17 per cent out of which 12 per cent uses a modern method while five per cent use traditional method; 37 per cent of sexually-active unmarried women use a contraceptive method, with 28 per cent using a modern method and nine per cent using traditional method.
Missed visits to health centres
Six out of 10 women interviewed in the course of this investigation said they missed their visit days at least once and at most twice.
Three respondents said they usually visit the health centre once every three months, three respondents said they visit once every month while the other four respondents said they visit twice in three months.
The Niger State Family Planning Coordinator, Mrs Dorcas Abu, told our correspondent that if the women had been allowed access to the health facilities, there would have been no increase in conception because the health facilities were opened and services were available.
“But for the women who do not have access to these health facilities, it will lead to conception. Indeed, some women who were supposed to have a revisit and get another shot of their injectable was not able to do so,” she said.
The Director of Primary Health Centre in Chachanga Local Government Area of Niger State, Hajiya Fati Garba, echoed this as she said that there was a huge drop in the visitation for family planning services to the health facilities in the council.
“We are afraid we are going to have many deliveries of babies by December/January. This is because there was the restriction of movement during the lockdown and a lot of people were not able to access several health services, including family planning,” she said.
At the Maternal and Child Health Gwari Road Clinic in Chachanga Local Government Area, the hospital recorded 150 family planning visits in March, 120 visits in April and 185 visits in May but after the lockdown was lifted, the clinic recorded 195 family planning visits in June, 181 in July and 247 in August; showing an upward increase in visits after the lifting of the lockdown.
The officer in charge of the health facility; Adamu Adamu; said unlike the crowd that flocks into the clinic daily, the lockdown period did not allow a lot of people to access their services.
“Before the lockdown, the patronage is very high. As you can see today (early November), usually, we have crowds. But during the lockdown, because of lack of transportation and harassment from the security agents, a lot of people would not come to the hospital.
“Some of the patients that came told me they had to use their hand cards as a because even walking on the streets, people were not allowed,” Adamu said.
In Paiko Town Clinic, the Paikoro Health Educator, Ibrahim Tanko; said the feeling that of staff in the health facility would also not work due to the lockdown made a lot of the clients to remain at home after the government announced the stay-at-home order,” he said.
However, in a different twist, the Head of Maikunkele Primary Health Centre in Bosso Local Government Area, Hadiza Hassan said although a lot of the clients missed their official visitation days, the local government council did not record many pregnancies like other councils due to ad-hoc arrangements it made.
According to the Head of Maikunkele Primary Health Centre in Bosso Local Government Area, majority of the women approached nurses and other caregivers who stay close to them to access these services.
At the PHC in Bosso Low Cost, 18 family planning clients were received in March, 19 clients in April, eight in May and 13 in June.
“Some of the clients had to follow some of us who provide the family planning services to our houses to get it. Although the official patronage in the health centre was low, we would not say that people could not access these family planning services,” she said.
796,000 condoms distributed during lockdown
The Niger State Family Planning Coordinator, Dorcas Talatu Abu revealed that from May to August, over 796,000 male condoms were distributed across the 25 local government areas of the state.
She also said that 11,000 jadelle, 14,760 microgyon, 15,000 norist, 3,200 microlut, 77,600 depo and 3,200 sayana press, which are all family planning commodities were also distributed during the period under review.
“The government had to purchase these commodities for distribution when it recognised that there is likely to be high demand for them, especially as couples stay at home during the lockdown.
Patronage of pharmacies and patent medicine shops for emergency contraceptives
Twenty-eight-year-old Mercy said she had to patronise the pharmacy close to her when it dawned on her that she could not go to the health facility to take her contraceptive during the lockdown.
Also, Florence Alba, who uses Sayana Press, said during that period she was supposed to have a shot but could not get to the hospital because of lack of transportation and this led her to get condoms for her husband who was not comfortable with it.
Strategic interventions by family planning agencies
The Marie Stopes International Organisation Nigeria (MSION) and the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) are the visible organisations that provide increased access for high quality affordable sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for people in Niger State.
A report entitled “Access to Family Planning Methods and Services in Niger State During and after Lockdown” which was made available to The Nation, revealed that Marie Stopes Nigeria continued to provide family planning and other sexual and reproductive health services across the country and in Niger State as part of the organisation’s responses in ensuring that women and girls were protected during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
Clients’ visits grew from 10,600 in March, to 10,700 in April, 11,500 in May and 12,600 in June when the lockdown was relaxed.
They attributed the increase in service uptake to the strong collaboration with the government which granted them es that allowed their teams to continue service provision in accordance with government and COID-19 guidelines.
However, while the number of women and girls accessing sexual and reproductive health services at MSION-ed facilities witnessed an increase, a downward trend was seen across the state in the overall number of women taking up the family planning from January through the lockdown until the last month of the lockdown when the number increased from 337,000 in May to 418,000 in June.
The organisation further observed that there was high male involvement during the lockdown which made their efforts to be successful, especially as house-to-house sensitisation was embarked upon by the community mobilisation officers and other health workers.
For the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), the Niger State Volunteer Chairperson, Ruth Theresa Yisa said a lot of people visited the centre which operated throughout the period to access family planning services.
“PPFN got a lot of patronage during this period, unlike previous times. Although we offered skeletal services, we witnessed people coming in their numbers to the office.
“Before the COVID-19 lockdown, access to our services was about 60 per cent but during the lockdown, we recorded about 80 per cent access to our services,” she said.
Yisa also stated that most of the services accessed included Implanon, pills, injectable and male and female condoms.
She also stated that while observing the COVID-19 protocols, the organisation embarked on outreaches to take family planning services to the people who could not go to the health facilities.
This report was facilitated by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under its COVID-19 Reality Check project.
Highlights
On the 25th of November 2020, 198 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria
Till date, 66,805 cases have been confirmed, 62,493 cases have been discharged and 1,169 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The 198 new cases are reported from 13 states- FCT (53), Lagos (48), Ogun (40), Akwa Ibom (20), Bauchi (9), Plateau (, Kaduna (5), Kano (4), Benue (3), Jigawa (3), Nasarawa(3), Edo (1), Kwara (1)
A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities
References: 10:22pm On Dec 13, 2020 
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