The World Health Organization (WHO) Chief on Monday gave a new warning about the coronavirus outbreak, saying “the worst is yet ahead of us. The Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sounded the alarm as many countries are easing the social distance measure that is aimed at restricting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak has infected some 2.5 million persons across the world and killed over 166,000. The WHO Chief and others have previously raised...
South Korea reported 13 more cases of the new coronavirus on Monday, bringing the country’s total infections to 10,674. It marked the third day in a row that the country’s new virus infections stayed below 20, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). South Korea recorded single-digit new cases on Sunday for the first time in two months with eight, which also marked a drastic drop from the Feb. 29 peak...
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo says the number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Africa has risen to over 21,000. The UN’s health agency gave the update on its official twitter account, @WHOAFRO on Monday. “COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Africa; over 21,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported on the African continent – with 5,000 recoveries and 1,000 deaths. “In sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa suffers the most severe...
Arsenal’s players and coaching staff have agreed a 12.5% salary cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Premier League club said in a statement on Monday. Several Premier League clubs have furloughed employees since the new coronavirus outbreak while others have said their players have accepted wage deferrals, but Arsenal is the first club to announce salary reductions for players. “We are pleased to announce that we have reached a voluntary agreement with our first-team players,...
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday insisted that there was no approved vaccine in Nigeria or any part of Africa for COVID-19 saying researches are still ongoing on the deadly viral disease. WHO Immunisation Team Lead, Dr. Fiona Braka, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the efforts of the world body on the reported vaccines for the deadly virus. Braka said COVID-19, being a new disease, has no ready vaccines, adding that public safety was...
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his Chief of Staff Malam Abba Kyari. OPEC made this known in a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Malam Mohammad Barkindo, on Saturday. Kyari died in a Lagos hospital on Friday from complications related to COVID-19, according to reports. “It was with profound shock and sadness that I learned of the tragic passing of Malam Abba Kyari. May...
World leaders have been urged to balance spending to curb the spread of the viral infection which has caused health crises, with transparency. Vitor Gaspar, head of Fiscal Policy at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said governments must recognise that the health crisis is a global situation that requires a global approach and that doing whatever is needed should not displace accountability, good governance, and transparency. “Sometimes, it is said that in an emergency like...
As countries of the world battle the COVID-19 pandemic and its huge disruption to livelihood, economy and health systems, the Developing 8 Organizations for Economic Cooperation has moved for solidarity among member states. The D-8 today announced a commitment to strengthen solidarity among member countries in efforts to enhance cooperation, identify constraints and bottlenecks in tackling the COVID-19pandemic as well as support countries to build post-pandemic resilient health systems. The Secretary-General of the D-8, Ambassador...
Countries under the G20 group of major economies have agreed to put on hold debt payments by poor countries, following a meeting by G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. The pandemic has led to a marked increase in government spending on health and effort to curb the spread of the viral infection. COVID-19 control guidelines have made governments to impose shutdowns on cities, placing several economies at risk of being crippled and making debt...
People in some countries could revolt if they perceive the actions the government is taking to mitigate the hardships of the pandemic as insufficient or favoring the wealthy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Wednesday. The viral infection has resulted in governments imposing lockdowns to curb the spread, an action that has strained global commerce. Nearly $8 trillion have been spent by governments to combat the pandemic and mitigate the economic fallout, but more...
