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Coronavirus: Panic In Delta As Persons With Suspected Symptoms Flood FMC Emergency Ward

The Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, is currently witnessing large influx of visitors with suspected symptoms of Coronavirus.

A staff of the medical facility, who spoke with SaharaReporters, disclosed that many of the visitors were apprehensive that they might have contracted the virus after feeling unwell.

“There is serious fear since Monday night, so many persons with suspected symptoms of Coronavirus have been coming into our emergency ward and the number is increasing even though no formal tests had been carried out on such persons.

“We have been told not to disclose a confirmed case so as to avoid panic in the state.

“Some of our colleagues working in government hospitals across the state told us that there was nothing on ground to show preparedness for the pandemic.

“A Lassa fever case was recorded at the facility and the patient, a pregnant woman, was subsequently transferred to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State,” the source said.

When contacted, Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Victor Osiatuma, said that there were no Coronavirus patients at the health facility.

He said, “Apart from the Lassa fever case of a pregnant woman recorded in our facility, there is no other case or cases of an outbreak of any dreaded disease here.”

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March 26, 2020
Coronavirus: Medical Supply Donated By Chinese Billionaire, Jack Ma, Moved To Abuja From Lagos

The Nigerian Government has moved medical supplies donated by Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma, to combat Coronavirus in the country from Lagos to Abuja.

However, the decision to move the supplies to Abuja has caused a storm on social media with citizens raising the alarm that the materials were about to be distributed to wealthy government officials in the nation’s capital.

Bashir Ahmed, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, made the announcement on Wednesday.

In a post on Twitter, he said, “Medical materials donated by @JackMa to fight #Coronavirus in Africa have arrived Abuja, airlifted from Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, by the Nigerian Air Force.”

FLASH: Medical materials donated by @JackMa to fight #coronavirus in Africa have arrived Abuja, airlifted from Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja by the Nigerian Air Force. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/RbIQ2tf5YE

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) March 25, 2020

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March 26, 2020
CBN Introduces N50bn Credit Facility For Households, Small Businesses Affected By Coronavirus

The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced that it would give a N50bn Targeted Credit Facility to households and small businesses affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Those eligible according to the apex bank must prove that they, their livelihood and business operations have been adversely affected by the spread of the virus.

Businesses eligible for the scheme are agricultural value chain activities, hospitality, health (pharmaceuticals and medical supplies), airline service providers, manufacturing and value addition, and trading.

The maximum amount to be received depending on proof of cash flow of investment size is N25m while households can access N3m with an interest rate of 5 per cent per annum for a maximum period of one year.

The facility will be administered by the NISRAL Microfinance Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

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March 26, 2020
Adamawa Governor Denies Refusal To Pay N32,000 New Minimum Wage

Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has debunked media reports claiming that his administration had backed down on paying the N32,000 new minimum wage.

The governor said that workers on Grade Level 1 to 6 had been paid their March salaries with the new minimum wage template.

A section of the mass media had on Tuesday quoted the government as saying the new minimum wage was suspended due to hardship caused by the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country.

Solomon Kumangar, Director General, Media and Communications to the governor, on Wednesday said only the consequential adjustment affecting workers from Level 7 to 17 was suspended temporarily.

He said, “Government wishes to draw the attention of the public to the regrettable misunderstanding arising from an earlier statement regarding the payment of March salaries without the consequential adjustment agreed upon by organised labour.

“As at now, workers have started receiving March salary alerts with the N32,000 minimum wage.

“It is only the consequential adjustment that the government was unable to implement due to the economic crunch imposed by the global pandemic Covid-19.”

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March 26, 2020
Sultan Nazrin consents to setting up of Special Zakat Distribution Fund

IPOH: The Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah (pix) has consented to the Special Zakat Distribution Fund, involving RM11.95 million, to ease the burden of the people affected by the Covid-19 outbreak and assist efforts by various quarters in addressing the crisis.

Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk) chief executive oficer Shahrul Azam Shaari said the special fund was set up by the council, with the cooperation of several of its strategic partners.

This special fund, involved RM11.11 million from the zakat allocation, RM30,000 from SP Setia Foundation chairman and RM800,000 in tithe from the corporate sector,“ he said in a statement here today.

He said Sultan Nazrin consented to the setting up of the fund so that it could be used to help those who are affected by the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) which has been extended until April 14.

“Sultan Nazrin is concerned and aware that the Covid-19 pandemic has a direct impact on the lives of the people, especially among those with unstable income and those in the low-income group,“ he added.

Shahrul said the special fund would cover the cost of the Food Box Aid, involving RM240,000, which would be channeled through the Covid-19 Operations Room under the respective District and Land Offices tin the state.

He said RM5.8 million would be for the Emergency Survival Assistance, which is targeted for households earning RM2,000 and below whose income were affected due to either termination of employment, unpaid leave or other reasons.

A total of RM2 million is allocated for Special Capital Assistance to assist MAIPk traders, hawkers and entrepreneurs whose business were affected by the MCO; RM100,000 for management and welfare assistance to Perak students studying abroad and RM100, 000 to provide food supply to students at public and private institutions of higher learning in Perak who are still at their respective colleges, he added.

Shahrul said a special contribution of RM500,000 would be made to the Perak Health Department, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian Armed Forces and other agencies for the welfare of their Covid-19 frontline personnel.

RM1 million is for health and medical equipment to be donated to hospitals in Perak, RM1.5 million for purchase of medical equipment to combat Covid-19, like face masks, gloves and disinfectant to be distributed to mosques, suraus and the general public, and RM710,000 for contingency plan, he added. – Bernama

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March 25, 2020
Health Ministry mulls over use of ‘Favipiravir’ to treat patients

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is considering the use of antiviral drug ‘Favipiravir’ to treat Covid-19 positive patients, according to its director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix).

He said the drug, which is also known as ‘Avigan’ and ‘Fuhaikang’, was not yet registered in the country.

“We (MOH) can approve it. However, we need to test the drug as it has certain side effects. So we need to be careful when using it,” he said during the daily press conference on Covid-19 here today, explaining that the drug was known as Avigan in Japan, and Fuhaikang in China.

In the event that the drug is approved, patients will need to be closely monitored to ensure its effectiveness, he explained.

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said 800 ventilators were required in government hospitals, out of which 500 would be designated for the specific use of Covid-19 cases.

The ministry had purchased 229 units of ventilators, with 54 units already received. The remaining 175 units are expected to arrive by early April, he said.

The private sector had also agreed to lend 64 ventilators for use in government hospitals, he added.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently announced an allocation of RM500 million for the purchase of medical equipment such as ventilators and Intensive Care Unit equipment, additional personal protective equipment (PPE) for public medical personnel, and for laboratory requirements for Covid-19 tests. – Bernama

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March 25, 2020
Private hospitals urged to provide more assistance to govt hospitals

PETALING JAYA: Private hospitals are asked to put profits aside for now and in the name of service, support the Health Ministry in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) CEO Datuk Dr Paul Selvaraj said in this time of crisis, private hospitals, especially those run by government-linked companies, should give their utmost to assist the government given that public hospitals are called to treat the rising number of Covid-19 patients.

“Put service as priority and put aside profits for now,“ he told theSun today.

Suaram adviser Kua Kia Soong suggested that private hospitals step forward to take some of the burden off the public sector by providing some sort of subsidised charges or no cost at all. They should also help with cases which are not related to the viral pandemic, fill the need for special wards, offer intensive care unit space and equipment such as ventilators and oxygen supply.

“In the best of times, private hospitals reap the benefits of the much touted Malaysian product known as ‘medical tourism’ and attract the best medical talents from the public sector.

“Now that we are in the worst of times, private hospitals don’t seem to be doing too badly either.

“According to the Affin Hwang Capital Research, the coronavirus pandemic is likely to have only a muted impact on private hospital operators as they are required to report such cases to public hospitals and the national infection centre,“ Kua said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, in response to the many questions broached of late, president of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said they (private hospitals) have made available 51 ventilators to the Health Ministry.

“We will be accepting non Covid-19 cases from the Health Ministry hospitals too. Discussions on taking on cases are in the final stages,“ he said in a statement on Tuesday.

He also said the APHM and its member hospitals see this as an opportunity for the private hospitals to work with the Health Ministry and the government in facing this national crisis.

“We have the support of all private hospitals in cancelling electives and reducing non urgent consultation while some private hospitals have even started Covid-19 screening for walk-ins and drive-ins,“ he added.

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March 25, 2020
MCO: Unemployed man gets three-month jail for obstructing officers on duty

KUALA LUMPUR: An unemployed man was sentenced to three-month jail by the magistrates’ court here today for obstructing members of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) from carrying out their duties during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

Magistrate Mohamed Aizat Abdul Rahim sentenced the accused, Hew Foo Keang, 35, after he pleaded guilty to the charge read out to him.

He was charged with intentionally obstructing Rela members, Seow Kok Keong and Zaman Huri Bontak from carrying out their duties under Section 186 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum jail term of two years, or a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both.

The offence was committed at Jalan Silang, near the Pekan Kepong People’s Housing Project here, at 11.10pm yesterday.

Deputy public prosecutor Ellyna Nor Azmal asked the court to impose a deterrent sentence as the offence was committed during the MCO, which required the public to fully cooperate with all civil servants who were on duty.

The accused, who was represented by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation, pleaded for a lighter sentence on the grounds it was his first offence and apologised for his actions.

The court also sentenced Hew to a month in jail after he pleaded guilty to failing to produce his identity card or any other identification document during a police inspection on the same date, place, and time.

He committed the offence during an inspection carried out by Corporal Mohd Faisal Abd Razak in accordance with Rule 25 (1) (n) of the National Registration Regulations 1990.

The court ordered Hew to serve both jail sentences concurrently from the date of his arrest yesterday. – Bernama

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March 25, 2020
Penang govt allocates RM75m to disbursed as aid

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will allocate up to RM75 million under an initiative to rejuvenate the economy that has been ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pix) said the money, in the form of financial incentives, will be disbursed in three components.

The first is directed at those considered most vulnerable. They include hawkers, petty traders, taxi drivers, trishaw peddlers e-hailing drivers, the disabled and those among the low income, or B40, group.

The second group to benefit from the incentive are the blue collar workers. Chow said the money is meant to help them survive and take care of their families.

The third component is to help ensure business continuity when the country gets through the crisis.

Chow, who made the announcement at his daily social media update to the public, said the state government would give a one-off payment of RM500 each to registered petty traders, hawkers, food truck vendors, tour guides, taxi drivers and trishaw peddlers.

E-hailing drivers will be given RM300 each.

Those who live in state public housing units will be exempted from paying rent for two months while those who lease lots at the wet markets, food courts and other similar facilities will not have to pay a month’s rent.

A total of RM3 million from zakat contributions has been set aside to help families of those who have contracted Covid-19.

Chow said the frontliners from the state’s two city councils will each get RM300 in recognition of their role in helping to curb the spread of the virus.

Others who will also benefit from the RM300 payout are uniformed personnel serving under the movement control order (MCO) initiative aimed to curtail the growth rate of Covid-19 infections.

A total of RM10 million has been set aside for the purchase of equipment such as protective suits, surgical masks, hand sanitizers and thermometers.

Entrepreneurs whose businesses have incurred losses as a result of the MCO will be given interest-free loans under the Penang Business Continuity plan. A total of RM30 million has been allocated for this purpose.

The 40 state assemblymen will be provided RM30,000 each to finance relief efforts for their constituents affected by the MCO.

The state will also defer payments for trading lots used by small-scale businesses.

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March 25, 2020
Edo Government Restricts Gatherings To 20 Persons

In a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Edo State, the state government has reduced the number of persons allowed in any public gathering from 50 to 20.

Other measures taken by the state government in the face of continuous spread of the virus in the country include the closure of markets with only sellers of food items, medicines and other vital commodities allowed to operate.

Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed the new measures during the inauguration of the Edo State COVID-19 Response Committee at Government House, Benin City, the state capital.

He said, “We are reducing the number of persons allowed to gather in public places from 50 to 20 persons.

“Also, only markets where essential commodities like foodstuffs are sold should remain open for now.

“The state government is working with the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for mass production of hand sanitisers in drums that would be distributed to local government areas, palaces, markets and other government agencies for use in public places.”

He directed transport unions to intensify sensitisation among members on the need to implement social distancing by reducing the number of passengers on their vehicles.

The governor while tasking security agencies in the state on the enforcement of the new measures, disclosed that the state government would partner with Nigeria Medical Association to intensify public health services.

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March 25, 2020