In an exclusive interview, climate activist Greta Thunberg has told New Scientist that the coronavirus pandemic shows we can act quickly in an emergency
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PUTRAJAYA: Over 5,000 attendees of the tabligh gathering at the Sri Petaling Mosque have yet to undergo Covid-19 screening, according to Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said to date, a total of 17,965 attendees were screened with some 12,842 samples taken.
“Of the total, 1,254 have been tested positive, 7,084 were confirmed negative while 4,504 are awaiting Covid-19 test results,” he told a press conference, here today.
Dr Noor Hisham said out of the 150 new confirmed cases today, 63 were linked to the Sri Petaling Mosque tabligh cluster.
On the illegal immigrants and those from the Rohingya ethnic group who were also at the tabligh gathering, he said the Health Ministry is collaborating with several non governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure all of them get screened.
“Those illegal immigrants may be afraid to come forward but at least when they go to the clinics (with the help of the NGOs), we will have the data to enable us conduct the necessary treatment and screening,” he added.
The NGOs are the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia’s Response and Relief Team (Imaret), Mercy Malaysia and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said the 100,000 test kits from China received by the ministry were meant for laboratory use and are not rapid test kits.
“We have also identified the laboratories that will be using the test kits,” he said.
He also said the ministry had received the supplies of reagents used for Covid-19 testing which would allow the test to be conducted at full capacity.
“We will continue to outsource the test to seven priavate laboratories,” Dr Noor Hisham added. – Bernama
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PUTRAJAYA: Chloroquine, a drug used for malaria, has been used to treat Covid-19 patients since the first wave of the outbreak in Malaysia and has shown its efficacy, according to Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix).
He said the anti-inflammatory properties of the drug were effective in treating Covid-19 which caused inflammation in the lower respiratory tract.
“When the Covid-19 virus attaches to the lower respiratory tract it causes inflammation and replication of the virus and this drug helps treat the inflammation,” he told a press conference, here today.
Besides ‘Chloroquine’, Dr Noor Hisham said the combination of ‘Lopinavir and Ritonavir’ and Hydroxychloroquine have also been used by Ministry of Health (MoH) since the first wave of the outbreak.
He said the drugs used in the first wave of the infection showed promising results in treating Covid-19, however, further research was still required.
He explained that the number of deaths due to the virus had increased as the patients were either elderly, had comorbidities such as high blood pressure and kidney disease, or those who sought treatment at a later stage or after they began having breathing difficulties.
“We have tried the drug and it is also part of a joint study with the World Health Organization called ‘Solidarity Trial’ involving many other countries,“ he added.
He said besides those medicines, studies would also focus on the latest drug, ‘Remdesivir’ as announced yesterday.
“This is only for research, and drugs that we have used off-label such as Lopinavir and Ritonavir, those we have been using since the first wave,“ he added. – Bernama
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KUCHING: The Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) announces that seven districts in the state are Covid-19 red zones (hotspots), today.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas (pix), who is also the committee’s chairman, said the city of Kuching had the most hotspots with 69 areas.
“This is followed by Samarahan with 16 areas, Miri (nine), Betong (six), Limbang (six) and Bintulu (five),” he told a press conference on the development of Covid-19 at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here, today.
Uggah said six districts were listed as yellow zones, namely, Serian (three), Sibu (three) while Mukah, Matu, Lawas and Simunjan had one area each.
He said the state government has decided that offshore oil and gas employees, including from outside Sarawak, must undergo a 14-day quarantine in the state before going to the oil rigs.
“In addition, the committee is also not allowing movements between districts and exemptions are only given to emergency cases with approval from the respective district offices,” he said.
Uggah said Sarawak recorded 11 new positive Covid-19 cases today, boosting the total number of cases in the state to 129 cases, since the first case on March 13, 2020.
“These 11 new cases are being treated at the Sarawak General Hospital, comprising six men and five women,” he added. – Bernama
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PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will open more temporary hospitals if Covid-19 cases increase drastically.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix) said the temporary hospitals would be for patients who did not need respiratory aid.
“For example today we have 150 new cases. If we look at the daily situation, there is a sudden increase in new cases, we might open more temporary hospitals at halls and stadiums, if necessary.
“If we receive 1,000 cases a day, we would probably use the temporary hospitals for cases of non-symptomatic but tested positive or patients tested positive with mild symptoms, which do not involve respiratory aid,“ he told a media conference on the development of Covid-19 today. – Bernama
More to Follow
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Two nurses and a doctor have been confirmed to have tested positive for Coronavirus at a hospital in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The health workers, who are staff of a government hospital in Abuja, were part of medical personnel that attended to an infected person brought into the hospital.
A senior medical worker at the hospital told SaharaReporters that, “The patient was rushed to the hospital and as our job demands, we have to save life first and that was what we did.
“The person was attended to and stabilised by the medical team.
“A test was soon conducted and the result came out positive.
“The hospital thereafter asked all those who attended to the patient to undergo tests to determine their status and at the end of the day, the three tested positive for the virus.
“They are currently in isolation at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital.”
Speaking further, the senior health worker lamented the lack of quality Personal Protective Equipment for them, adding that government must invest in the protection of health workers at the frontline of the battle against the virus.
He said, “The unfortunate thing is that the government is not providing us with what to work with. It is sad that our PPE are not up to the world standard and can be penetrated by viruses.
“Some of us (health workers) have to use our personal funds to purchase gloves as we do not trust the ones government supplied.
“Nigerians should please remember us in their prayers and government should provide us with what we really need to work.”
Nigeria currently has 81 confirmed cases of Coronavirus and one recorded death.
According to the diplomatic community, infections could rise to more than 10,000 in the coming weeks as there are at least 5,000 persons, who had come in contact with infected persons in Nigeria already.
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PUTRAJAYA: The government will need more than RM50 million to bring back Malaysians from the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) if the two countries implemented travel restrictions, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (pix) today.
Therefore, he said those who are still in both countries and wish to come back should fly home now while commercial flights are still available as well as to avoid unnecessary complications later.
“Don’t wait until there is a lockdown in these two countries, and then come running to the government and Wisma Putra to ask for help bringing them back,” he told reporters after witnessing the handover of medical equipment from the Chinese government to Malaysia here today.
Hishammuddin outlined two issues that the government had to face in addressing the Malaysians stranded overseas problem.
“First, the lockdown in the host country. That can only be resolved (through) G-to-G (Government-to-Government (effort), and that can only happen if Wisma Putra has strong bilateral ties with these countries,” he said.
“Second problem (is), even if we have the landing rights and we have the agreement from the (foreign) governments to allow our planes to come in, we need an allocation to charter planes and the amount is not small,“ he added.
Hishammuddin further added that in the case of bringing back Malaysians from the US, Wisma Putra estimated some RM50 million was needed to fund the initiative.
“That RM50 million could be spent on buying equipment, medication for Malaysians in need. So please understand, Malaysians who are overseas, that (the issue) is not just about allocation.
“Come home now if you want to come home, don’t come home after the lockdown is implemented as the numbers (of Malaysians) in the US, especially, is huge,“ he said.
It was reported that US recorded over 100,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of yesterday. — Bernama
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KUALA LUMPUR: Some 1,000 homeless people in the capital will be placed at three National Service Training Programme (PLKN) camps during the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in the country.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan (pix) said the identified camps are in Kuala Kubu Baru, Semenyih and Sepang.
“We are aware that they don’t have a place to stay during the implementation of the MCO, that is why we are taking this proactive measure.
“They will be screened and placed at the respective camps based on their health status and citizenship,” he told Bernama today.
He said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was currently making necessary preparations before carrying out the plan, to be assisted by the Royal Malaysia Police, National Anti-Drugs Agency and other related agencies.
The MCO, which began nationwide on March 18 to curb the spread of Covid-19, is effective until April 14. — Bernama
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Does Nigeria possess the relevant forensic expertise to deduce the size of the explosive that devastated Abule Ado? I am referring here not to the trigger which could jolly well be a match stick, box of matches, a cigarette, a 12.5 or even a 50kg cylinder of LPG. If could also be a 2-ton industrial LPG storage.
Let’s leave the trigger alone for now.
Even as a layman viewing the field of devastation, I have deduced that the explosion proper cannot be less than 5kilotons TNT equivalent. No, I have no proof. At this point, I request professional backups or refutation? Please!
What exactly was this explosive? The statement by the NNPC boss at the scene that “it was gas” was unscientific, in view of the fact that the NNPC swears that none of its pipelines was involved.
Whether it was gas or not, it has been two weeks and the NNPC is yet to identify the ownership of the pipeline spewing those highly inflammable fluids (liquids or gas, we’ve not been told), burning over the next several days? How deep was that particular pipe buried? Is that standard? This is most doubtful. If the pipeline was carrying Natural Gas which the NNPC does NOT transfer from the Atlas Cove to Ejigbo and then to Mosimi and Ibadan, then it seems likely that the suspect pipeline must have been a natural gas line belonging to Gaslink Ltd, a subsidiary of Oando Plc flowing north to south toward the Dangote and other industrial operations on the shorelines by the lagoons. Was it a conspiracy that the ownership of this poorly installed gas delivery pipeline has been kept under wraps. I hope that Oando Plc, which is the ONLY gas distributor South of Ikorodu and the newer Igbesa cement plants in Ogun State, will come out with a statement. Was it one of their gas pipelines?
Other questions begging for answers:
– What part did the DPR play in the poor installation practices, now revealed?
– Since we have been made to understand that a truck was involved, was the sparking incident at a pipeline road crossing?
– Was there a provision in the design for a steel casing of the correct size and thickness in that location?
– Was it installed?
– At the Spec Standard depth?
– Was the Casing breached?
– Was there an Earthing Requirement for any/or all of the components?
– Was the Earthing implemented?
– Was there prior damage and dislocation there due to Soil Erosion and/or Wilful Trespass by property developers?
– Can we locate the last Right Of Way Inspection Report where this problem was indicated?
– When was that?
– What Remedial Action if any was recommended?
– Was it implemented?
– If not, why not?
My colleagues in the Nigerian Society of Engineers would have their hands full with this Case Study.
The leadership at the topmost echelons of the NNPC must recognise that what the people of Abule Ado, Lagos and indeed Nigeria need and want is JUSTICE not sympathy. That’s where the Attorney General of Lagos State needs to step in.
When the Dupont plant in Bhopal blew up more than three decades ago, the Indian government spearheaded by the Engineering Safety community rallied to find answers. Unlike here, every professional did not insist on being involved in the humanitarian relief effort, joining the CBN Governor to mobilize funds. Note that a good part of what we lost at Abule Ado cannot be redeemed by money. Ultimately at Bhopal heads rolled. The plant, manufacturing methyl isocyanate, was closed down permanently. Dupont paid billions in damages and I believe is still paying to this day.
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JOHOR BARU: A sharp increase of Covid-19 positive cases at Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim Majid in Simpang Renggam, Kluang, which is now under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), is believed to be related to the tabligh gathering at the Sri Petaling Mosque recently.
Johor Police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay (pix) said that he did not rule out the possibility that some of the villagers did not isolate themselves (quarantine) after returning from the gathering.
“Some may have attended receptions (kenduri) in their area because they were unaware of the outbreak,“ he told a press conference, in responding to a question on whether the increase in Covid-19 cases was due to the wedding receptions and tahlil organised recently in the area.
There are claims by Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid residents that the outbreak started with a wedding reception and tahlil that was held on March 15.
Meanwhile, Ayob Khan noted that the authorities have set-up roadblocks on the five main roads and 11 ‘rat routes’, which were the entry points of the two areas.
The roadblocks involved 181 officers and personnel of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).
“Before EMCO was implemented, 80 officers and personnel were deployed to the area and the number has increased to 181 today.
Based on police surveillance, residents of both areas are obeying the EMCO restriction.
Yesterday, the government ruled that EMCO is to be implemented in the two areas due to the high number of Covid-19 positive cases.
The EMCO involves 3,570 locals residents, comprising of 650 families. — Bernama
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