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Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus

Geneva, 23 March 2020: FIFA, the international governing body of football, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, who are calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps to stop the spread of the disease.

The “Pass the message to kick out coronavirus” campaign promotes five key steps for people to follow to protect their health in line with WHO guidance, focused on hand washing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face, physical distance and staying home if feeling unwell.

“FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino have been actively involved in passing the message against this pandemic since the very beginning,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the virtual launch of the campaign at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. “Be it through campaigns or funding, FIFA has stood up to the coronavirus, and I am delighted that world football is supporting WHO to kick out the coronavirus. I have no doubt with this type of support that together we will win.”

“We need teamwork to combat the coronavirus,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “FIFA has teamed up with WHO because health comes first. I call upon the football community worldwide to join us in supporting this campaign to pass the message even further. Some of the greatest players to have played the beautiful game have put their names to the campaign and are united in their desire to pass the message to kick out COVID-19.”

Twenty-eight players are involved in the video campaign, which is being published in 13 languages.

Sami Al Jaber (KSA), Alisson Becker (BRA), Emre Belözoğlu (TUR), Jared Borgetti (MEX), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Iker Casillas (ESP), Sunil Chhetri (IND), Youri Djorkaeff (FRA), Han Duan (CHN), Samuel Eto’o (CMR), Radamel Falcao (COL), Laura Georges (FRA), Valeri Karpin (RUS), Miroslav Klose (GER), Philipp Lahm (GER), Gary Lineker (ENG), Carli Lloyd (USA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Mido (EGY), Michael Owen (ENG), Park Ji-sung (KOR) , Carles Puyol (ESP), Célia Šašić (GER), Asako Takakura (JPN), Yaya Touré (CIV), Juan Sebastián Verón (ARG), Sun Wen (CHN) and Xavi Hernández (ESP).

A video campaign, which will be published on player and FIFA digital channels, is also being provided as individual localized files to the 211 FIFA member associations and media agencies, together with a graphics toolkit for implementation on social media to further pass the message.

Hands:

“It starts with your hands,” says Alisson Becker, WHO Goodwill ambassador for health promotion, Liverpool FC and Brazil goalkeeper, and The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, 2019. “Please wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based solution.”

Such frequent washing with soap and water, or preferably with an alcohol-based hand solution, kills viruses that may be on your hands. It is simple, but it is very important.

Elbows:

“Cover your nose and mouth with a bent elbow or tissue when you sneeze or cough,” says Carli Lloyd two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner from the United States. “Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands.”

Droplets spread the coronavirus. By following respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from contracting viruses, such as cold, flu and coronavirus.

Face:

“Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the virus from entering your body,” adds FC Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2019, and a multiple FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.

Hands touch too many surfaces and can quickly pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your face, from where the virus can move inside your body, making you feel unwell.

Distance:

“In terms of social interaction, take a step back,” says Han Duan, who represented China PR 188 times in an international career that spanned 11 years. “Stay at least one metre distance from others.”

By maintaining such social distancing, you are helping to avoid breathing in any droplets from someone who sneezes or coughs in close proximity.

Feel – know your symptoms:

“If you feel unwell, stay home,” concludes Samuel Eto’o, former FC Barcelona and Cameroon striker, who represented his country 114 times. “Please follow all instructions provided by your local health authorities.”

If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.

Keep informed as local health authorities provide the latest information on the situation in your area. Please follow their specific instructions, and call in advance to allow them to direct you to the appropriate local health facility. This serves to protect you and to help prevent the spread of virus and other infections.

FIFA have also pledged $10 million to support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO.

For more information, please consult @WHO and follow the latest information online.

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https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/23-03-2020-pass-the-message-five-steps-to-kicking-out-coronavirus

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March 24, 2020
Nadma clarifies eligibility for Covid-19 fund

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian workers who have lost their source of income or are not being paid throughout the duration of the Movement Control Order are eligible to seek assistance from the Covid-19 Fund, said National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).

In a statement uploaded on its official Facebook page today, Nadma said Malaysian workers who lost their source of income or are not being paid throughout the duration of hospitalisation due to Covid-19 are also eligible to apply for the assistance.

“The assistance is RM100 per day throughout the duration of the Observation and Surveillance Order for Covid-19 Contact under Section 15 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) or treatment in a hospital ward authorised by the Ministry of Health for Covid-19 (warded),” said the statement.

However, Nadma explained that non-Malaysians and those who are unemployed before the Observation and Surveillance Order period are not eligible to apply.

Those eligible will need to download the document from Nadma website at www.nadma.gov.my and mail the complete application to the following address:

Ketua Pengarah Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) Jabatan Perdana Menteri

Aras 7, Blok D5, Kompleks D Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan

62502 Putrajaya

(u.p. : Sekretariat KWABBN)

For more information, log on to www.nadma.gov.my. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/nadma-clarifies-eligibility-for-covid-19-fund-HN2168898

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March 22, 2020
Netflix establishes $100 million virus relief fund

Netflix said Friday it is establishing a $100 million relief fund for workers in the worldwide creative community affected by the coronavirus-caused halt of most film and television production.

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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-netflix-million-virus-relief-creative.html

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March 20, 2020
Berjaya donates RM1 million to Covid-19 fund

PETALING JAYA: Berjaya Group today donated RM1 million to the Covid-19 fund, bringing the fund’s total to more than RM3 million.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in a Facebook posting, shared the heart-warming news which was attached with pictures of Berjaya Group CEO Datuk Seri Robin Tan Yeong Chin presenting the cheque to him.

I Berhad chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong also donated RM1 million today.

The Covid-19 fund now has a total of RM3.125 million which includes a RM1 million grant from the government and RM125,000 in donations from several government-linked companies and individuals.

The fund was launched by Muhyiddin on March 11 and is aimed at easing the burden faced by those infected by Covid-19.

The fund will provide RM100 daily to those who have no fixed income or are not being paid throughout the duration of the quarantine period and treatment.

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/berjaya-donates-rm1-million-to-covid-19-fund-LD2162836

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March 20, 2020
How Vanguard’s new actively managed ESG fund can fit into your portfolio

Vanguard’s new actively managed ESG mutual fund offers the opportunity to maximize returns and invest in stocks of leading ESG companies.

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https://investornews.vanguard/how-vanguards-new-actively-managed-esg-fund-can-fit-into-your-portfolio/

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March 20, 2020
Dracunculiasis eradication: intensifying surveillance amid continued zero human cases in Ethiopia and Mali

A total of 54 human cases of dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, with Chad reporting 48 out of the 54 cases.

In Chad, Ethiopia, Mali and South Sudan, trained volunteers are supporting surveillance and detection of infections in domestic dogs and cats. Surveillance has been heightened, as evidenced by the increase in reports of rumoured human cases which in 2019 peaked at 108 207 out of which 106 678 were investigated within 24 hours.

“We are working with the broader scientific community to understand the epidemiology of animal infections, mainly in dogs in Chad, where the highest number of human cases were reported in 2019,” said Dr Dieudonné Sankara, who leads WHO’s eradication and elimination team in the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. “Interestingly, there have been no human cases in Ethiopia and Mali, and 4 human cases in South Sudan in 2019, compared with 10 in 2018.”

In Mali, the number of animals infected with Dracunculus medinensis (the guinea-worm) has decreased from 20 animals in 2018 to 8 dogs and 1 cat in 2019. However, insecurity remains a challenge to freely accessing some endemic areas in Mali.

Conversely, Chad reported 1935 infections in dogs and 46 in cats in 2019, an increase of 85% from 2018, and a 176% increase among humans.

Angola reported only 1 human case in 2019. Community-based surveillance is being reinforced mainly in Cunene Province where a case was reported in 2018.

In South Sudan, integrated surveillance activities have been carried out with the trachoma and onchocerciasis control programmes, in accordance with WHO’s recommendation that programmes collaborate, integrate and co-implement activities, whenever possible, to strengthen surveillance.

In order to strengthen cross-border surveillance, WHO led a mission to Cameroon in November 2019 to investigate circumstances around an “imported” case in the country’s Far North Region. Discussions were held with the health authorities to establish active surveillance in all villages in the area, including training for application of temephos.[1]

Also, in 2019, and with the support of trained field workers, vector control was intensified to larvicide ponds and water sources in more than 400 villages, compared with 72 villages in 2018.

In late 2019, WHO supported cross-border meetings with officials of national dracunculiasis eradication programmes from Mali, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa; between Ethiopia and South Sudan in East Africa, and between Angola and Namibia in Southern Africa, to share experiences and plan joint surveillance activities across the borders to prevent transmission of the disease.

The disease

Dracunculiasis is a crippling parasitic disease caused by infection with D. medinensis, a long, thread-like worm. It is usually transmitted when people drink stagnant water contaminated with parasite-infected water fleas.

WHO works with Member States and in partnership with The Carter Center and the United Nations Children’s Fund to support efforts to eradicate the disease. WHO provides technical guidance, works with national programmes to coordinate surveillance in dracunculiasis-free areas, and monitors and reports on the progress achieved.

WHO is the only Organization mandated to certify countries as free of transmission of the disease following the recommendations of the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication.

Since 1995, WHO has certified a total of 199 countries, territories and areas, including 187 Member States, as free of dracunculiasis transmission.

[1] Temephos is a cyclopicide used to kill water fleas (cyclops) that carry the infective guinea-worm larvae.

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https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/19-03-2020-dracunculiasis-eradication-intensifying-surveillance-amid-continued-zero-human-cases-in-ethiopia-and-mali

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March 20, 2020
Govt to bear RM662m electricity bill discount

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will bear the cost of an electricity discount for selected sectors amounting to RM662 million, of which RM122.5 million is for Sarawak and RM37.2 million for Sabah, this year, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said.

He said the cost would be borne through the Kumpulan Wang Industri Elektrik’s (KWIE) fund for Peninsular Malaysia, and by the federal government for Sabah and Sarawak, he said in a statement today.

The electricity discount of 2% and 15% for six months beginning April was specified under the Economic Stimulus Package 2020, which was aimed at reducing the cash flow problem faced by tourism-related businesses, as well as commercial, industrial and agriculture users affected by Covid-19.

A discount of 15% is given to six selected business sectors under the Trade Tariff category and is expected to result in a reduction of electricity bills for the period amounting to RM40 million in the Peninsula, RM20 million in Sabah and RM8.5 million in Sarawak.

Shamsul Anuar said the 15% discount would involve 10,000 accounts in the six sectors, namely hotel operators, travel and tourism agencies, shopping complexes, convention centres, theme parks, and local airlines offices.

On the other hand, commercial, industrial and agriculture users would get 2.0% discount.

“This would benefit about 1.6 million Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) account holders with electricity bill savings estimated at RM370 million for the six-month period,” he said.

For Sabah, it would benefit 99,322 account owners with an estimated cost of RM11.5 million, while for Sarawak, it involves an estimated cost of RM107.2 million for 100,000 account owners.

Shamsul Anuar said domestic or residential category users would enjoy electricity bill savings through a 2% discount on the electricity consumption for the April 1-Sept 30, 2020 period.

“This means that the people will enjoy a 2% discount during the period, in addition to the 6% discount already enjoyed by domestic consumers for the Jan 1-June 30, 2020 period,” he said.

This is expected to provide estimated electricity bill savings of RM92 million to about 7.5 million TNB account holders for the six-month period.

“For Sabah, it will benefit 520,378 domestic consumers at an estimated cost of RM5.7 million, while for Sarawak, it will benefit 585,637 domestic consumers at an estimated cost of RM6.8 million,” Shamsul Anuar said. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/govt-to-bear-rm662m-electricity-bill-discount-BE2152120

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March 19, 2020
PTPTN defers loan repayments until June 30

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed to defer National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan repayments with immediate effect until June 30.

PTPTN in a statement today said the postponement was made in light of the Covid-19 outbreak, and is expected to benefit 1.5 million borrowers with total collection of RM375 million over the three-month deferment period.

“PTPTN is always concerned and sensitive of the welfare of borrowers,” the statement added.

For further information, PTPTN borrowers can contact corporation’s Careline at 03-21933000 which operates from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

More information can be obtained on its official website at www.ptptn.gov.my.

Earlier, after chairing the Special Ministerial Committee on the Movement Control Order (MCO), Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also the Defence Minister said PTPTN had agreed to suspend loan repayments for the time being. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/ptptn-defers-loan-repayments-until-june-30-JE2152083

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March 19, 2020
Vanguard mourns passing of Windsor Fund legend John Neff

John B. Neff, who directed Vanguard Windsor Fund to great success, has died.

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https://investornews.vanguard/vanguard-mourns-passing-of-windsor-fund-legend-john-neff/

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March 19, 2020
Mercy Malaysia launches Covid-19 fund

KUALA LUMPUR: Mercy Malaysia launched the Covid-19 Pandemic Fund today to support the severely strained healthcare system due to the outbreak of the disease and implementation of the movement control order that took effect today.

The non-profit organisation’s executive director, Amran Mahzan said the fund would also go towards supporting medical services and the essential needs of marginalised groups.

“We have been reinforcing preventive measures such as hand-washing, eating well-cooked food and correct use of face masks at our mobile clinics for refugees and migrants since last month.

“These marginalised communities cannot be left out of the pandemic containment plan as they can potentially be hot spots for the virus to spread rapidly,“ he said in a statement today.

Amran said to support Mercy Malaysia’s initiatives, the donation could be made through www.mercy.org.my or direct to MERCY Humanitarian Fund (5621 7950 4126) or MERCY Malaysia (CIMB 8000-7929-08). All donations are tax-exempted.

The movement control order was declared by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday night. So far, Malaysia has recorded 790 Covid-19 positive cases with the first fatalities yesterday involving two local residents. – Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/mercy-malaysia-launches-covid-19-fund-BA2147388

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March 18, 2020