Update on school 🏫 Resumption
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CORONAVIRUS
Schools’ resumption date remains January 18 – PTF on COVID
The PTF on COVID-19 has said schools will still resume on January 18 unless the Ministry of Education makes a contrary announcement.
Published
4 hours agoon
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has stated that schools in the country will still resume on January 18 till the Ministry of Education makes a contrary announcement.
Contrary to the report across some media platforms that the Federal Government has postponed school resumption from January 18 indefinitely, the PTF explained that though it is meeting several stakeholders on schools re-opening, the government has not shifted the resumption date.
This was disclosed by the PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, on Tuesday during a television programme.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had earlier explained that government may review the date but that the decision had not yet been taken and the review would be attributed to the second wave of COVID-19 currently ravaging the country.
Aliyu responding to questions on Tuesday said, “As regards schools, I just want to make a clarification, what the minister said yesterday was that they were going to review, he didn’t say that they were going to change the date. He said they will review the situation and let the nation know.
“So, for the moment, it is still 18th January until the ministry of education comes back either with an alternative date or reconfirm that.”
What it means: This means that there are chances that the government may shift the resumption date if the daily COVID cases increase between now and Friday, January 15, 2021.
What you should know
- On Sunday, January 9, Nairametrics reported that the total number of covid-19 cases in Nigeria has surpassed the 100,000 mark, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
- The national case count had risen to 100,087 confirmed cases and 1,358 covid related deaths after the NCDC reported 1,024 new cases of the disease across 17 states of the federation.
- Ten days into the New Year, Nigeria has already recorded 12,508 new cases of Covid-19, which is only 37% short of 19,980 cases recorded in December 2020 and 166% more than 4,704 recorded in November 2020.
Abiola has spent about 14 years in journalism. His career has covered some top local print media like TELL Magazine, Broad Street Journal, The Point Newspaper.The Bloomberg MEI alumni has interviewed some of the most influential figures of the IMF, G-20 Summit, Pre-G20 Central Bank Governors and Finance Ministers, Critical Communication World Conference.The multiple award winner is variously trained in business and markets journalism at Lagos Business School, and Pan-Atlantic University. You may contact him via email - abiola.odutola@nairametrics.com.
CORONAVIRUS
FG alerts that Nigerian hospitals are running out of facilities as Covid-19 spreads fast
The FG has stated that the recent surge in COVID-19 cases has forced hospitals across the country to run out of facilities.
Published
8 hours agoon
January 12, 2021
The Federal Government has alerted Nigerians that hospitals across the country are running out of facilities to handle more serious cases of coronavirus infections as the virus is spreading fast with mild symptoms in some victims and severe illnesses and death in others.
This disclosure was made by the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19, on Monday, January 11, 2021.
He said that the country has recorded a spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases and no state has been spared of the coronavirus disease.
What the NCDC Director-General is saying
Ihekweazu in his statement said,
- “Our data suggest that we were right in saying that there is COVID circulating in every state of Nigeria and we all have to continue the hard work we have been doing. We are reaching a critical level where our hospital capacity will no longer be able to cope with more serious Covid-19 cases. Health workers will be forced to make tough decisions.
- “We need to protect our more vulnerable citizens, while we all have to take responsibility because this has gone beyond the NCDC, PTF or government, as all hands must be on deck.
- “By organising large gatherings indoors, you are not only putting yourself and guests at risk but also the staff who have limited choice but to serve. By going to clubs, you are putting your parents at risk.”
The NCDC boss also said that many victims have continued to experience fatigue and other symptoms even after recovery.
What you should know
- With the current outbreak of a second wave of the coronavirus disease, Nigeria has reported over 100,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases with over 1,300 casualties across the country. This has led to renewed strict enforcement of health measures and Covid-19 protocols by authorities in the country.
- The government is even reported to be considering imposing another lockdown as part of the measure to curtail the spread of the virus especially with the new strain of the disease which is reported to spread faster.
CORONAVIRUS
Covid-19: South Africa secures 20 million vaccines
South Africa announced that it has secured 20 million vaccines which would be delivered before mid-2021.
Published
13 hours agoon
January 12, 2021
South Africa, the most hit African country from the coronavirus, announced that it has secured 20 million vaccines which would be delivered before mid-2021.
This was disclosed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a televised statement on Monday, as reported by Reuters.
Ramaphosa said:
- “The pandemic in our country is now at its most devastating, we must unite to overcome the grave and persisting crisis our country faces. While there are several promising negotiations with a number of different manufacturers that still need to be concluded, we have to date secured 20 million doses to be delivered mainly in the first half of the year. We will make further announcements as we conclude our negotiations with vaccine manufacturers.”
Ramaphosa added that South Africa will explore other avenues to get as many vaccine doses as soon as possible.
This comes after South Africa’s Ministry of Health disclosed that it would receive 1.5 million vaccine doses from AstraZeneca between January to February, distributed by Serum Institute of India for frontline health workers.
South Africa has also had meetings with other vaccine makers including, Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and others.
Ramaphosa also ordered that South African restrictions remain and the ban on sale of alcohol remains; also 20 land border ports would be closed until the 15th of February.
What you should know
- Nairametrics reported that Pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and BioNTech will supply up to 50 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to Africa, starting from March 2021.
- Africa’s recently surpassed 3 million coronavirus cases on Sunday, including over 72,000 casualties from the pandemic, as South Africa remains the leading nation in Africa, accounting for the highest number of cases at over 1.2 million and also the highest number of reported deaths at over 32,800 as at Sunday, January 10, 2021 – 30% of all cases in the continent.
- Meanwhile in Nigeria, the Federal Government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), announced its distribution plan for the Covid-19 vaccine deployment in Nigeria.
- The NPHCDA revealed that all states will initially receive 4,000 vaccines during the first phase, with the top states being Kano State 3,557; Lagos 3,131; Katsina 2,361; Kaduna 2,074; Bauchi 1,900; Oyo 1,848; and Rivers 1,766.
BUSINESS
FG to review January 18 resumption date for schools across the country
The FG said the date was not sacrosanct, hence the likely announcement of a new date, depending on the country’s Covid-19 indicator.
Published
17 hours agoon
January 12, 2021
The Federal Government has said that it is currently reviewing the January 18, 2021 resumption date for schools across the country due to the spike in Covid-19 cases.
It said that the date was not sacrosanct, hence the likely announcement of a new date, depending on the country’s Covid-19 indicator.
READ: Covid-19: Africa records over 3 million cases
This disclosure was made by the Minister for Education, Adamu Adamu, at the resumed briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 in Abuja on Monday, January 11, 2021.
What the Minister for Education is saying
Adamu, in his statement, said, “When we decided on that date, it was just a target toward what we are working on. Of course, we are keeping it in view and looking at what is happening in the society and then it is supposed to be subject to constant review.
READ: Covid-19: Nigeria considers international travel ban as new strain gains momentum
“Even today at the PTF meeting, we looked at the rising figures and thought we should probably take another look at it. On the Jan.18, 2021 date for school’s resumption, we are reviewing it,” he said.
The Minister also added that the issue was considered at the PTF meeting held on Monday, and the ministry would take it up on Tuesday.
READ: Lagos bed occupancy level in COVID-19 care centres increases to 51%
What you should know
- It can be recalled that the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, in December 2020, directed that schools across the country should remain closed until January 18, 2021, due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
- The Director-General of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, had warned that a significant rise in Covid-19 infections appeared imminent by January 2021 due to continued violations of safety protocols, especially during the Christmas period.
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