Super User
I’ve had hard conversations this week. “Look me in the eye,” I said to my neighbor Karen, who was spiraling to a dark place in her mind. “I make this personal promise to you — I will not let your children die from this disease.” I swallowed back a lump in my throat. Just the image of one of our kids attached to a tube was jarring. Two weeks ago our kids were having a pizza party and watching cartoons together, running back and forth between our apartments. This was before #socialdistancing was trending. Statistically, I still feel good about my promise to Karen because children do not seem to be dying from Covid-19. There are others to whom I cannot make similar promises.
A few days later, I got a text from another friend. She has asthma. “I’m just saying this because I need to say it to someone,” she wrote. She asked that if she gets sick and has a poor prognosis, to play recordings of the voice of Josie, her daughter. “I think it would bring me back,” she said. Josie is my 4-year-old’s best friend.
Today, at the hospital where I work, one of the largest in New York City, Covid-19 cases continue to climb, and there’s movement to redeploy as many health care workers as possible to the E.R.s, new “fever clinics” and I.C.U.s. It’s becoming an all-healthy-hands-on-deck scenario.
The sky is falling. I’m not afraid to say it. A few weeks from now you may call me an alarmist; and I can live with that. Actually, I will keel over with happiness if I’m proven wrong.
Alarmist is not a word anyone has ever used to describe me before. I’m a board-certified surgeon and critical care specialist who spent much of my training attending to traumas in the emergency room and doing the rounds at Harvard hospitals’ intensive care units. I’m now in my last four months of training as a pediatric surgeon in New York City. Part of my job entails waking in the middle of the night to rush to the children’s hospital to put babies on a form of life support called ECMO, a service required when a child’s lungs are failing even with maximum ventilator support. Scenarios that mimic end-stage Covid-19 are part of my job. Panic is not in my vocabulary; the emotion has been drilled out of me in nine years of training. This is different.
We are living in a global public health crisis moving at a speed and scale never witnessed by living generations. The cracks in our medical and financial systems are being splayed open like a gashing wound. No matter how this plays out, life will forever look a little different for all of us.
On the front lines, patients are lining up outside of our emergency rooms and clinics looking to us for answers — but we have few. Only on Friday did coronavirus testing become more readily available in New York, and the tests are still extremely limited. Right next to my office in the hospital, a lab is being repurposed with hopes of a capability to run 1,000 tests a day. But today, and likely tomorrow, even M.D.s do not have straightforward access to testing across the country. Furthermore, the guidelines and criteria for testing are changing almost daily. Our health care system is mired in situational uncertainty. The leadership of our hospital is working tirelessly — but doctors on the ground are pessimistic about our surge capacity.
Making my rounds at the children’s hospital earlier this week, I saw that the boxes of gloves and other personal protective equipment were dwindling. This is a crisis for our vulnerable patients and health care workers alike. Protective equipment is only one of the places where supplies are falling short. At our large, 4,000-bed New York City hospital, we have 500 ventilators and 250 on backup reserve. If we are on track to match the scale of Covid-19 infections in Italy, then we are likely to run out of ventilators in New York. The anti-viral “treatments” we have for Covid-19 are experimental and many of them are hard to even get approved. Let me repeat. The sky is falling.
I say this not to panic anyone but to mobilize you. We need more equipment and we need it now. Specifically gloves, masks, eye protection and more ventilators. We need our technology friends to be making and testing prototypes to rig the ventilators that we do have to support more than one patient at a time. We need our labs channeling all of their efforts into combating this bug — that means vaccine research and antiviral treatment research, quickly.
We need hospitals to figure out how to nimbly and flexibly modify our existing practices to adapt to this virus and do it fast. Doctors across the globe are sharing information, protocols and strategies through social media, because our common publishing channels are too slow. Physician and surgeon mothers are coming together on Facebook groups to publish advice to parents and the public, to amplify our outrage, and to underscore the fear we feel for our most vulnerable patient populations, as well as ourselves and our families.
Please flatten the curve and stay at home, but please do not go into couch mode. Like everyone, I have moments where imagining the worst possible Covid-19 scenario steals my breath. But cowering in the dark places of our minds doesn’t help. Rather than private panic, we need public-spirited action. Those of us walking into the rooms of Covid-19-positive patients every day need you and your minds, your networks, your creative solutions, and your voices to be fighting for us. We might be the exhausted masked face trying to resuscitate you when you show up on the doorstep of our hospital. And when you do, I promise not to panic. I’ll use every ounce of my expertise to keep you alive. Please, do the same for us.
Cornelia Griggs is a mother, writer and pediatric surgery fellow in New York.
NYTime
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed five new cases of coronavirus in Lagos, Rivers, and Abuja, taking the national total to 51.
NCDC recorded two cases in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, two cases in Lagos and one case in Rivers state.
Three out of five were travellers into Nigeria and two are close contacts of a confirmed case.
NCDC gave the breakdown of coronavirus cases in each state in Nigeria as follows:
For a breakdown of cases by states in real time, please see https://t.co/zQrpNeOfet
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 25, 2020
Currently;
Lagos- 32
FCT- 10
Ogun- 3
Ekiti- 1
Oyo- 1
Edo- 1
Bauchi-1
Osun-1
Rivers-1
Total: 51 confirmed cases#COVID19Nigeria
Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins is on the verge of a return to Shanghai Shenhua, Chinese media have reported, increasing the likelihood Odion Ighalo will make his stay at Manchester United a permanent one this summer.
Ighalo has made an impressive start to life at United, scoring four times in eight games since signing on loan until 31 Mayfrom the Chinese Super League club.
Martins, who was previously contracted to Shenhua from 2016 until the end of the 2018 season, was reported by Titan Sports to have arrived in China on Tuesday and was being lined up to replace Ighalo ahead of the Chinese Super League season.
China’s domestic league has yet to start the 2020 season after kick-off was delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak but speculation is mounting that the campaign will begin in late April or early May.
England’s Premier League has been suspended due to the pandemic and will not resume before 30 April.
Nollywood actor, Alkali Matt, popularly known as Dareng, has died while he was filming on set on the 24th of March 2020.
Dimbo Atiya who shared the news of his demise on Facebook said Matt passed at around 7 pm “suddenly while he was filming on a set for an epic movie in a village near Keffi.”
He is popular for his role as Dareng in the African Magic series “Halita.”
Dimbo Atiya took to their page to share a series of tribute to him.
However, controversial journalist, Kemi Olunloyo is claiming the actor died because he had contact with someone who tested positive for Coronavirus at the AMVCA 7.
She wrote: “#Breaking, Dareng died today on the set of his movie. He was EXPOSED to someone with #Covid19. People are dropping like flies in NYC and Italy. I have warned and warned. Pls go into #selfisolation, stop filming at this time. Someone on that set was infected. I tweeted all day. Matt Alkali was only 36yo. A very careful autopsy should be done. Virus is always active and bodies should be cremated #RIP, young man. NOLLYWOOD #dosomething
#IJcovid19 #CommunityQuarantine #CoronaCrisis #coronavirusinnigeria”
Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed has charged Nigerians to take Coronavirus seriously. He said this from the isolation center where he is being kept after testing positive to for the virus.
The Governor wrote on twitter ;
I am doing great and showing no symptoms. I have also advised fellow compatriots to take this pandemic seriously and strictly adhere to @NCDCgov guidelines. I cherish your support and prayers.
The family of Nigerian rapper CDQ has given their tenants a 30% off their 2020 rent over the inconvenience caused by the ravaging coronavirus disease.
Taking to his Instagram page, the rapper mentioned that move was necessary to ease the burdens on the tenants who are likely to be affected economically by the disease.
He wrote:
So I was on the phone with my lil brother last-night for almost 2hrs discussing the issue of this deadly Corona Virus… I’ve never spoken to him for this long before 臘 Last night I realized how much I’m meant to have loved him… mostly I’m always concerned about my mum and my little sister, and I’ll be like after-all he’s a guy he’ll be fine.
So last night we concluded on taking some burdens off the people that are attached to the little properties we have control over in this temporal hard time.
I believe if there’s no productive activities happening with the ongoing shut-down issues everywhere right now, there has to be a way we can be rational and fair to ourselves to make life easy for our fellow humans… cos against all odds…we are all we’ve got I’m actually posting this not as a show off but to commence a movement that will probably influence everyone with good heart out there to make life easy in this hard time for anyone under or attached to us somehow… Thank You
Kebbi State Government, says the payment of March salary and pension to workers will not suffer in spite of the global economic downturn arising from the coronavirus pandemic.
Governor Atiku Bagudu gave this assurance at an emergency stakeholders meeting to chart the best course of action for the financial future of the state in Birnin kebbi.
Bagudu, however, informed the stakeholders to advance options on the uncertainty in the payment of salary in subsequent months if federation allocation fall below the salary bill of the state which currently stood at One Point Ninety-Five Billion Naira monthly.
The Governor was optimistic that the government would settle all liabilities of serving and retired civil servants as he has promised.
Bagudu then informed the forum that the Coronavirus pandemic has hit hard on the economy of the world including Nigeria which made it impossible to market her crude oil.
The governor, therefore, announced that an advisory committee of experts and professionals would be constituted to offer suggestions on how Kebbi state could manage its affairs and offset its obligations to the people under the present paucity of resources globally and nationwide.
He made it clear that the situation has become worrisome because the state relied heavily on federation allocation without major source of internally generated revenue.
However, governor Bagudu advised the people of the state to bear in mind that the Covid-19 pandemic was a reality which made it obligatory to observe strict hygiene practices to prevent affliction and its spread to the state.
He, therefore, vowed that the wellbeing of the people of the state remained paramount in the policy thrust of his administration.
Earlier speaking the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Babale Umar Yauri explained that the emergency meeting was convened to discuss issues of economic downturn in the world with its effect on Nigeria and Kebbi state, also to examined the current health matters relating to Corona Virus pandemic and strategies to safeguard its spread to Kebbi state among other things.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Aishatu Usman reviewed the finances of the state, saying that money accruing to Kebbi have been on the shortfall.
She added that the state was yet to receive its federation allocation for March as no disbursement has been made nationwide.
The Auditor-General of the State, Alhaji Faruq Makera made comparative analysis of Kebbi revenue earnings and commended Governor Atiku Bagudu of striving to meeting the financial obligation of the people of the state in spite of glaring economic challenges.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad Shalla expressed fears about possible deficit in the statutory financial obligation of local government councils as a result of impending global economic crisis brought about by Covid-19 pandemic.
The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Iliyasu Bashar advocated for the reintroduction of Personal Tax ( Haraji) and Cattle Tax (Jangali) in the state to facilitate societal development.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera in his owen opinion said people have to make sacrifices to give room for tackling emergency cases.
He said government must look inwards even if it means suspending salary of workers to attend to pressing emergency matters to safe the people.
While the Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Samaila Abdulmumin Kamba averred that the legislature would remain proactive in upholding the interest and wellbeing of the people of the state.
He said the legislature would be ready for any bill from the executive for adjustment of the state budget.
In his contribution, a Permanent Secretary and Chief Medical Director, Sir Yahaya Specialist Hospital Birnin Kebbi, Dr. Aminu Haliru Bunza, advised the government to order the immediate closure of all Islamiyya and Qur’anic schools (Almajiri schools) as a precautionary measure against Corona Virus infection.
Adding that such schools should be temporarily closed similar to the closure of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.
The Federal Government on Tuesday raised the alarm over the existence of an Android-based malicious and fraudulent coronavirus Ransomware application, which claims to provide updates on COVID-19 and infections near the user.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Mr Segun Adeyemi, said the Ransomware blocks access to users’ personal data and accounts and threatens deletion, unless users pay $100 in Bitcoin within 48 hours.
He said the Ransomware App, detected on the website www.coronavirusapp.site, “prompts users to download an Android App purportedly for coronavirus map tracking and heat map visuals.”
Mohammed said the development confirmed warnings against cybercriminals seeking to exploit the growing spread of the virus for nefarious gains.
The minister, therefore, called on the general public not to download the Ransomware App and to seek updates on the pandemic only from the appropriate authorities.
Punch
Attendees of the just concluded Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards have been advised to observe strict self-isolation as they were likely exposed to the novel coronavirus.
According to the Commissioner for Health in the state, Professor Akin Abayomi, in a tweet on Tuesday explained that the participants may have come in contact with one of the confirmed cases in Lagos at the hotel where the event held on March 14.
While the identity of the attendee remains unknown, some celebrities such as Banky W and his wife Adesua, Toke Makinwa have gone into self-isolation after rumours of a positive attendee made the rounds last week after filmmaker, Ifeoma Chukwuogo tweeted that a UK returnee who attended the AMVCA had shown symptoms of the virus.
Shortly after the news broke, a UK returnee identified via his Instagram handle @specialNigerian confirmed that he was the attendee in question and shared videos of an NCDC van picking him up to be tested for the virus.
However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is yet to confirm that the alleged carrier is the now confirmed case but with the latest development from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, many celebrities might be affected.
PM News also gathered that aside from the routine health check that the organizers provided at the event, some celebrities were spotted with pocket-sized sanitizers which they used intermittently while socialising as some joked about the dangers of handshakes.
Some celebrities and notable personalities that graced the award night are Toke Makinwa, Uti Nwachukwu, Ronke Odusanya, Ramsey Nouah, Bimbo Ademoye, Ebele Okaro, Swanke J.K.A, Timini Egbuson, Efa Iwara, Shola Shobowale, Zainab Balogun, Victor Afrigold, Ayanda Carter, Jim Franklin, Zimasa Ndamase, Dimeji Ajibola, Iwaotan Olusola Roberts, Omotola Alade, Bolanle Austen Peters.
Celebrity couples such as Funke Akindele and Abdulrasheed Bello (JJC Skillz), Oscar and Titilayo Oyinsan, Banky W and Adesua Wellington, Toyin Abraham and Kolawole Ajeyemi, 2baba and Annie Idibia lovingly showed up together for the event.
An Adamawa High Court sitting in Yola has sentenced a former executive secretary, Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bishop Jinga Mayo, to five years imprisonment without the option of fine.
The convict was charged to Court on Jan. 30, 2019, for diverting and furnishing of false return in respect of the sum of N69,198,600
The amount was discovered to be meant for the operation committees of the 2016 Christian Pilgrims operation to Israel but Mayo fraudulently diverted it for personal use.
He was the executive secretary of the board between 2016 and 2017, and was sentenced to correctional facility on March 23, 2020, without option of fine