Premier League and other sports in England get June green light to resume

Top-level sport in England could restart behind closed doors from 1 June but spectators may not be able to attend venues until a vaccine is found.

The government’s road map for exiting the lockdown imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus was published on Monday afternoon, setting out the conditions under which various activities can be safely carried out.

Step two of the road map, which cannot begin any earlier than 1 June, includes “permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact”.

This will only be possible though if sufficient progress is made in limiting the spread of the virus between now and then, but the document entitled “Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK government’s Covid-19 Recovery Strategy” says that “organisations should plan accordingly”.

It is less clear when supporters will be able to return to venues. The document talks about venues such as cinemas and hairdressers reopening in step three – no earlier than 4 July – but states: “Some venues which are, by design, crowded and where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may still not be able to reopen safely at this point, or may be able to open safely only in part.

“Nevertheless the government will wish to open as many businesses and public places as the data and information at the time allows. In order to facilitate the fastest possible reopening of these types of higher-risk businesses and public places, the government will carefully phase and pilot reopenings to test their ability to adopt the new Covid-19 Secure guidelines.

“The government will also monitor carefully the effects of reopening other similar establishments elsewhere in the world, as this happens. The government will establish a series of task forces to work closely with stakeholders in these sectors to develop ways in which they can make these businesses and public places Covid-19 Secure.”

The British Horseracing Authority had hoped under its “best case scenario” planning to be back in action before the end of May, with two high-profile cards scheduled at the end of the month before the Guineas meeting at the beginning of June.

In terms of sports participation, one v one sport with someone from outside your household will be permitted from Wednesday. Team sports are not permitted, except with members of your own household.

(The Guardian)

60-Year-Old American Woman Dies Of Coronavirus During Visit To A Nigerian Lover In Delta

A 60-year-old women from the United States has died of  suspected coronavirus infection in Delta State, Nigeria.

The unidentified woman was said to have been invited to Nigeria on March 3, 2020, by a young man she met on the Internet.

She lodged into a hotel in Warri for sometime before relocating to another hotel around Orerokpe.

The 60-year-old woman died on Sunday morning, May 10, 2020, after manifesting some COVID-19 symptoms, and was subsequently rushed to a private hospital at Osubi, Orerokpe under Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, a security official attached to a police station in the local government, disclosed that the young man and the white lady had been lodged at a hotel in Osubi town since her arrival in Nigeria on March 3, 2020.

“The young man and the American white lady lodged in a hotel in Osubi where they spent some weeks.

“The white lady fell sick and she began to manifest some symptoms of COVID-19, especially severe coughing. At this stage, her lover rushed her to a private clinic in Osubi but she gave up the ghost this morning.

“Immediately she died at the hospital, her Nigerian lover carried her corpse in a Venza car to the Orerokpe Police Division and he was arrested by the police. While still at the station, a doctor was brought and took samples from the corpse for test.”

When contacted over the issue, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya, confirmed the incident.

He explained that the white lady’s corpse was brought to Orerokpe Police Station by her lover, who revealed to the police that the deceased had severe cough for about a week until she died on Sunday morning.

“While they were together for about a week, the woman was coughing and having difficulty in breathing and stooling.

“So, she was taken to a hospital on Saturday when her condition became worse and eventually died,” he said.

Onowakpoyeya said that the blood sample of the woman, that of her lover and others, who may have had contact with her, have been taken for test.

Family sues Fayemi over traditional stool crisis

Following the crisis trailing the appointment of the new Oore of Otun in Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti state, a royal family has dragged Governor Kayode Fayemi to court over alleged imposition of a new monarch in the ancient town.

The stool of Oore became vacant sequel to the demise of Oba Adedapo Popoola last October.

In suit number HAD/28/2020 filed at the High Court, Ado Ekiti Division by Chief Adeleke Atolagbe of the Obajeu ruling house, the family faulted the alleged unilateral appointment made by the state in breach of tradition, customs and principle of rotation.

Joined in the suit are Governor Fayemi, the Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, attorney general and justice commissioner, secretary of Moba Local Government Area, the Obanla of Otun, Chief Adeniran Odeniyi and the Head of Iyaaba ruling house, Chief Ateere Folorunso.

In the affidavit of urgency attached to the motion on notice with registration number HAD/169m/20 and deposed to by Olakanmi Falade, the aggrieved family said the government erred in law by not abiding to tradition and allow the kingmakers make inputs in the selection of a king from the appropriate royal lineage.

The claimant contended that by virtue of the principle of rotation, Obajeu was the natural choice to be considered, urging the state government to reverse its action to prevent acting ultra vires of its powers as stipulated by the Ekiti state Chieftaincy law.

He therefore, sought an order of the court nullifying all the actions taken by the government in respect of the selection made from the Iyaaba ruling house.

The claimant further sought a mandatory order compelling the first, sexond and third defendants directing the fourth defendant to announce Obajeu as the ruling house to produce the next king.

He also asked the court to grant an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from taking any further steps that can be sub -judicial until court rules on the matter.

Speaking, counsel to the claimant, Mr. Olakanmi Falade, explained that if truly it was government that directed that a new king be selected from the Iyaaba ruling House, such would be in contravention of the subsisting Ekiti state Chief Law.

“Government has no business in being a kingmaker when there are kingmakers in the town prescribed by law.

“Worst still is that the act of government supposedly directing Ile Iyaaba as the next ruling house to present a candidate for the Oore of Otun is based on a law that does not exist having been nullified by the then Ondo state High Court and affirmed by the Supreme Court .

“Government is obliged to respect the rule of law because a suit and motion on notice for injunction had already been filed and served on all parties for them to stay further action, and maintain the status quo in the interest of justice and peace,” he declared.

(Daily Times)

Madagascar’s COVID-19 cure drugs sent to Nigeria

******NAFDAC, others to carry out analysis before testing

The Republic of Madagascar has offered its herbal drug – COVID Organics (COV) – to Nigeria and other African countries.

The drug is for prevention and cure of Coronavirus.

Nigeria’s consignment has been sent to Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.

For ease of transportation, African countries were divided into zones leading to the freighting of Nigeria’s consignments to Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria’s COVID-19 positive tally moved to 4,399 last night with 248 new cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Lagos recorded 81 cases, followed by Jigawa State 35 and Borno 26 cases to top the chart. Kano recorded 26 cases, followed by Bauchi with 20 cases.

There is pressure on the Federal Government by different medical and scientific organizations to allow the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to subject the drug to further analysis.

Some others are pushing for clinical trial of Covid Organics before being used in the country.

The Federal Government was yet to take a position as of weekend because the AU has mandated its Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID Organics.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week insisted that the efficacy of the drug was unproven.

According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has been notified of the offer from Madagascar and arrangements were being made to bring Nigeria’s allocation to Abuja.

The source said: “The consignments of the drug are being distributed to different countries in Africa based on zonal grouping. We have been told that Nigeria’s consignment is in Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.

“When the herbal drink is brought into the country, we will know the next step. But some medical and scientific organisations are pressurising that the drug be subjected to clinical trial.

“Some countries like Tanzania, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea have subscribed to the drugs. Also, while South Africa has offered to conduct a scientific analysis of the drug, Senegal said it will subject it to clinical trial.

“I can assure you that the Federal Government will take the best decision on the drug in the overall interest of Nigerians.

“Before any food or drug can be administered in this country, there are certain protocols that must be followed. The government will not circumvent these protocols. We want solution; we want the best for Nigerians.”

On April 28, the Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha said the nation was ready to give Madagascar’s herbal drink a trial.He said: “I want to assure you that whatever is happening in the world, we are mindful of it and we are keeping a tab.

“I was reading of the experiences in Madagascar– of why everybody is drinking some solutions that have been prepared. This morning I was sharing with my wife, and I told her that probably I would request that Mr. President allow us import a plane load for a trial.

“We are all navigating an unchartered cause. Nobody has ever been on this road. So, every attempt to find solution that would bring succour to our people, be rest assured that this task force is very responsible and we would do everything to ensure that we get what will benefit our people, what will help them in the processes that we find ourselves today.”

(The Nation)

About 150 Deaths Recorded In Azare Within 30 Days, Says Bauchi Governor

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammad, has said that about 150 people died in Azare, the headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area, in the last 30 days.

Mohammad said hypertension and other related diseases were responsible for some of the deaths.

Ibrahim Baba, a former member of the House of Representatives from Bauchi, had written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over a massive outbreak of Coronavirus in Azare.

In the letter dated May 8, 2020, Baba said Azare had recorded over 100 COVID-19 deaths in the last one week.

But speaking on Sunday, Governor Mohammad told journalist that about 150 had died so far in the last 30 days, according to a report received from the committee set up to investigate the strange death.

He said, “We have reviewed the rumour about Azare that it has become a morgue. It’s not true, we have gotten the statistics of the death in the last 30 days.

“About 150 died in Azare, an average of about eight death per day and most of them we have found the cause to arising from hypertension and other related diseases.

“It’s not true that people are falling and dying in Azare, even if that is the situation ,we are moving there as a government.”

(Sahara Reporters)

COVID-19: Kaduna govt begs patients who fled after testing positive to return

Kaduna State Government has appealed to persons who tested positive for COVID-19 to report at its isolation centre for treatment.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni made the appeal on Sunday in Kaduna.

Mohammed-Baloni said that the call was necessary because two persons who were on isolation pending the receipt of their tests, which were positive, had remained incommunicado.

She said; “These persons subsequently switched off their phones and have remained incommunicado. This reckless action of theirs is endangering themselves, their families and the larger community.

“Similar irresponsible conduct by some COVID-19 patients has been reported in other states. It is a pattern of behaviour that must be stopped because it is patently dangerous to public safety.”

According to her, details of the two persons involved have been communicated to the security agencies for tracking and surveillance

“Members of the public who may have relevant information on the whereabouts of these persons are urged to promptly contact the authorities.”

She warned that it was illegal and dangerous for a COVID-19 patient to switch off his phone and make himself inaccessible to health authorities after testing positive to the virus.

She reiterated that COVID-19 was not a death sentence, adding that persons who received treatment promptly had a higher chance of defeating the disease.

“Twelve persons have so far been discharged in Kaduna State after receiving treatment and our health professionals are working hard for the recovery of other patients,” she said.

The commissioner reminded the residents that asymptomatic persons and untreated COVID-19 patients had a high chance of infecting others.

She said to knowingly infect others was an irresponsible act to the people and the state. (OAK TV)