25032020

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Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu;
and World Health
Organisation Country
Representative.
Kyari in
self-isolation
A top government official
who spoke on the condition
of anonymity said that the
Chief of Staff was in selfisolation,
where he was
being monitored by medical
personnel because he was
not showing severe
symptoms of the disease.
Asked if he was not
expected to be moved to
Abuja University Teaching
Hospital, Gwagwalada,
where cases of COVID-19
are being treated, the
source said it was not
compulsory that everyone
who tests positive must be
taken to the hospital.
He said that if the patient
was not showing severe
symptoms of COVID-19, he
can merely be given bed
rest, noting that most of the
victims of the disease
naturally recover.
He also pointed out that
over 80 per cent of victims
recover without any
intervention.
According to him, “He
may test positive and not
show severe symptoms and
so be in self-isolation. The
symptoms in over 80 per
cent cases are mild as they
manifest modestly. Most
people will recover without
intervention. Fatality is
common in old people.
“They only have to be
monitored to find that the
situation is not
deteriorating. He can be on
bed rest and given drugs
related to the symptoms
he’s showing. If the
symptom is fever, he can be
given paracetamol.
“He will be given water
to help him hydrate. His
blood sample will be taken
to know that he’s not
showing any sign of
deterioration. The treatment
given to them is just to
support the immune
system.”
He further said that most
of the victims of the disease
who die were those who
Naira depreciates to N400/$
in parallel market
By Elizabeth Adegbesan
THE naira, yesterday depreciated by N12 to
N400 per dollar in the parallel market.
According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate
platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change
Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel market
exchange rate rose to N400 per dollar from N388 per
dollar on Monday, indicating N12 depreciation of the
naira.
However, the naira yesterday appreciated by 22 kobo
in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window.
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange
rate for the window dropped to N380.53 per dollar
yesterday from N380.75 per dollar on Monday, translating
to 22 kobo appreciation of the naira.
The volume of dollars (turnover) traded in the window
yesterday dropped by nine percent to $56.54 million
from $61.54 million on Monday.
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
Widespread fear as Kyari, Bauchi
gov test positive
showed respiratory
symptoms like pneumonia,
adding that it was the
reason why ventilators are
needed.
It was reliably gathered
that some notable
presidential aides, who
had contacts with the Chief
of Staff had gone into selfisolation.
One of them, when
contacted by Vanguard to
confirm their status in a text
message said: “Sorry, I
can’t talk right now.”
The source at the State
House said that staff would
not be subjected to tests
until there are symptoms of
the virus, adding “while it
is ideal for everyone to be
tested, test cannot be
carried out on every
suspected case until it is
showing symptoms of the
disease.”
He explained that there
are limited number of test
kits, and that it is only
reasonable to reserve such
a limited number of kits for
those who will be in dire
need of them.
According to him, “Tests
are done if only people are
showing symptoms. If they
are not showing symptoms,
they will only be told to
self-isolate. They will not be
tested until they are
showing symptoms.
“It’s on account of limited
kits that this is done.
Ideally, everybody should
be tested because there are
some people that are not
showing the symptoms and
are positive. We have
people from highburdened
countries but
there are no kits. It is not
prudent to use the kits for
those that are not showing
the signs.”
Fear grips Bauchi
residents
Governor Mohammed,
through his spokesman,
Muhktar Gidado, has urged
everyone who recently had
contact with him, and anyone
with symptoms of the
infection to go for test in order
to avoid the risk of spreading
the disease. Gidado said
Governor Mohammed is
currently in isolation.
He said: “This is to inform
the general public that the
result of the six initial tests
carried out by NCDC on
Governor Mohammed, his
family and aides that
accompanied him to Lagos is
out. Of the six initial tests
carried out, one sample was
confirmed positive of COVID
-19.
“The positive result
happened to be that of
Governor Mohammed.
“At this point, it should be
noted that the Governor is in
self-isolation as his doctors
and officials from NCDC
have taken full charge of his
quarantine. His Excellency,
solicits for prayers from all
and requests that all those who
had contact with him or any
one known to have the same
medical condition to go for
test immediately in order to
avert further spread of the
COVID -19 epidemic.”
Meanwhile, a student,
Munir Abubakar, who spoke
with Vanguard said he now
sees a reason to get hand
sanitizer in order not to
contract the deadly virus.
“I am really scared. The
same virus that we thought
was foreign is now in our state.
Who knows how many people
have been infected already? I
pray the governor comes out
of this alive and stronger than
before. Nevertheless, I will be
visiting a pharmacy to get my
own hand sanitizer,” he said.
Another resident, a trader at
Yelwa Market, Amina Saheed
said, she was scared. “I heard
in the news that our governor
tested positive to corona virus.
It really breaks my heart.
Look around, no one is happy.
We pray to God to save him. I
know that by staying here
(market), I am putting my life
and that of my family in
danger, but what can I do? If I
remain at home, we will all
die of hunger.”
Jack Ma’s
ventilators, test
kits arrive
A presidency source,
yesterday, said that test kits
and ventilators sent to
Nigeria by Chinese
billionaire, Jack Ma, would
arrive the country
yesterday, raising hopes of
possibilities of conducting
more tests that may be
considered necessary.
In the same vein, patients
showing respiratory
symptoms can also have
access to ventilators which
can help their breathing
system.
It was gathered that the
Ethiopian Airline
conveying the items was
yesterday waiting for
clearance to fly into the
country in view of the
closure of the country’s
international airports.
He assured that both the
ventilators and the test kits
would arrive the country
yesterday.
Why Aisha
Buhari shut office
for 2-weeks
It will be recalled that last
week, the First Lady, Aisha
Buhari shut down her office
following the refusal of one
of her top aides who was
said to have returned
recently from the United
Kingdom to stay away from
office and go on a 14 day
self isolation. The First
Lady, explained that her
action was a precautionary
measure against the
spread of COVID-19 in the
office.
It was gathered that one
of the First Lady’s aides
had traveled to London but
on her arrival, the First
Lady advised that she
should stay away for 14
days but the staff was said
to have defied the advice.
Mrs Buhari was said to
have been infuriated by the
action of the staff because
of the health implications it
could pose to other staff and
the Presidency.
AMVCA
attendees
advised to selfisolate
Lagos
State
Commissioner for Health,
Akin Abayomi, yesterday,
said all participants at the
African Magic Viewers’
Choice Awards, AMVCA,
which recently held in
Lagos should embark on
self-isolation due to the
high risk of coronavirus
infection.
Abayomi said via his
Twitter handle that all
participants may have been
exposed to coronavirus
infection as one of the
participants tested positive.
He said: “I hereby notify
you that all participants at
the African Magic viewers’
Choice Award held on
March 14, at EkoHotels
may have come in contact
with one of the confirmed
cases in Lagos and are most
likely to have been exposed
to #COVID19 Infection.”
Abayomi advised all
attendees to observe strict
self- isolation and call the
toll free line; 08000corona
if they notice any of the
Covid-19
symptoms.
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 — 35
related
Speak up on state
of Villa, PDP tells
Buhari
The Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, has called on
President Buhari to douse
what it called “widespread
public anxieties” by
immediately addressing the
nation on the status of the
Presidential villa, in relation
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The party said its demand
is predicated on “public
apprehensions of health
safety issues in the Villa
following reports that
President Buhari’s Chief of
Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari,
had tested positive to the
deadly corona virus disease.”
In a statement iby party’s
spokesman, Kola
Ologbondiyan, the PDP
maintained that though
President Buhari “was
reported to have tested
negative to the virus, it is yet
imperative that he douses
public tension by addressing
a distressed nation on the
status of the Villa, especially
given that other officials, like
Abba Kyari, had traveled to
high-risk countries in the
course of their duties.
“The party notes that an
address on the situation in the
Presidential villa will further
douse public concerns about
the status of certain key
officials, who have not been
visible in the last few days.
“The party stressed that
Nigerians, no matter how
highly placed, should strictly
adhere to directives by
relevant agencies of
government on health safety
measures, particularly as
they relate to isolation of
persons returning from
foreign trips.
“The PDP urged the
Nigeria Centre for Disease
NEWS HOTLINES
018773962,
08052867058
From left, Minister of Humanitarian Services, Disaster Management and
Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk; Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, Boss Musthapha and Information Minister, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, after a meeting of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 at
the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.
Control, NCDC, and other
relevant agencies to adopt
stringent measures to
isolate and monitor
persons coming into the
country as well as track and
equally isolate those who
had made contact with
infected persons.
“In this regard, the
NCDC should move into
the Presidential villa and
immediately track and
isolate all those who had
made contact with
President Buhari’s Chief of
Staff, so as to check further
spread of COVID-19 in our
country.
“The party called on
Nigerians to remain
vigilant and observe all
health safety directives,
including social distances,
self-isolation, personal
hygiene and prompt report
for medical assistance in
the case of any symptoms.
“The PDP expressed
optimism that with a
concerted effort by all
Nigerians, our nation will
overcome the COVID-19
pandemic.”
VP Osinbajo conducts
meetings via video
conferencing
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,
yesterday, conducted his
meetings via video
conferencing, while observing
social distancing.
He also continued his work
from the home office, as he is
in self-isolation in accordance
with NCDC protocols.
Enugu gov lauded for successful
PDP LG congresses
GOVERNOR Ifeanyi
Ugwuanyi of
Enugu State has been
commended for the
successful People
Democracy Party, PDP
local government Congress
in Igboeze South Local
Government area and other
Local government in
Enugu State.
Special adviser to the
Governor Rt Hon Sir
Erochukwu Ugwueze
made the commendation
while speaking with
newsmen after assessing
the situation and the
successful exercise.
Describing the PDP ward
Congress held in Igboeze
South Local Government
on Saturday, as excellent,
he noted that Ugwuanyi
gave a level playing
ground to all party
members in the Congress,
He congratulated
Princess Mrs. Chinwe
Ogbonna who emerged
Chairman PDP Igboeze
South and others in the
entire council arras of the
state.
In her acceptance
speech, Hon Chinwe
Ogbonna thanked party
stakeholders for their
confidence in PDP local
government executives
and promised on behalf of
other elected officials that
they will serve the party
diligently in the years
ahead.