News

The lockdown that countries all over the world are currently experiencing is putting a renewed focus on personal hygiene. But despite people being advised to wash their hands often, how many apply the same rigour to their smartphones? Kaspersky provides a few tips on keeping mobile devices ‘virus-free’. “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, it is frightening to think how much …

Facebook users can opt in to follow the centre to get notifications and see updates in their News Feed from official government health authorities JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 9, 2020/ — Facebook is expanding its Coronavirus Information Centre to 17 more countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The Information Centres form part of Facebook’s effort to help the global fight against COVID-19 …

Facebook launches tools to keep faith-based communities connected during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The tools are part of Facebook’s ongoing efforts in keeping communities safe, connected and informed during this pandemic JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 9, 2020/ — Facebook has launched key resources to help faith groups stay connected and engaged during the current COVID-19 outbreak. The resources include the “Faith …

According to the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE), twenty-two Nigerians have so far died of the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease in Europe – 18 in UK, 3 in Italy and 1 in Spain. Moreover, no less than 25 others are currently hospitalised because of infection with the virus. In a press statement issued by Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, chairman of NIDOE, …

African Ministers of Finance met in an online conference over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on 31 March 2020, following the first meeting on 19 March 2020. The meeting, moderated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, discussed the impact of the global health crisis on the continent, especially the social and economic impact of social contact restriction measures on …

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has claimed the life of a prominent UK-based Nigerian doctor. Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, died on Tuesday afternoon at the Whittington Hospital in north London. He was infected with the virus while volunteering in a hospital in London. According to his son Dani Saadu, the doctor started to show symptoms of coronavirus two weeks ago and …

A 25-year-old graduating Nigerian student identified as Bassey Offiong has died after contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) in the city of Detroit, US. He was expected to graduate with a chemical engineering degree at the Western Michigan University in a few weeks but died Saturday, 28 March, after allegedly having been turned down several times for a coronavirus test in the Kalamazoo …

An emergency global conference call of Ghanaians abroad took place on Saturday, 28 March. Attended by members of the Ghanaian diaspora from Italy, USA, Spain, Germany, France, UK, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Canada and Czech Republic, among others, the meeting discussed the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and how it’s impacting on their communities across the globe and also their home country. …

In Europe, clocks will be set forward by one hour in the night from 28 March to 29 March.   Sunday, 29 March 2020, 02:00:00 clocks are turned forward 1 hour to Sunday, 29 March 2020, 03:00:00 local daylight time instead. Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on 29 March 2020 than the day before. There will …

Rights activist Omoyele Sowore has cried out over an alleged plot to arrest and detain him. In a statement published on his Facebook page, the publisher of the online news platform SaharaReporters accused the presidency of working with the Nigerian army and the judiciary to obtain an unjustifiable court order for his renewed detention over the revelation of SaharaReporters that …

BBC News Africa has launched daily one minute video Coronavirus (Covid -19) stories in Afrique, Hausa, Igbo, Pidgin and Yoruba. Delivered by 6pm GMT each video will showcase the two top stories with one being a fact-check video. They will give valuable tips and also dispel disinformation about Covid -19. The first videos include: · What is the relationship between …

With about three billion people worldwide having to stay at home in order to avoid further spreading of the coronavirus, Africa has also been adversely affected. Forty-six African countries have officially recorded cases (2,819 as at 26 March) and they have adopted various measures, ranging from compulsory quarantine and border closures to strong recommendations to stay at home. The pandemic …

Ghanaians in the diaspora will hold a global conference meeting by phone on Saturday (28 March) to discuss how their communities are affected by the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Titled Corona Protection International (Disapora) Conference Call, the meeting offers an opportunity for Ghanaian communities in the different countries to share experiences and discuss how best to protect their members. A …

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Government of Ethiopia have received a consignment of medical equipment for distribution to African countries for their fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The donated consignment includes 1.5 million testing kits, 6 million medical masks and 60,000 protective suits to be distributed throughout Africa. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 23, 2020/ — Africa’s …

The proliferation of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been labelled a dangerous “infodemic”. Fake news spreads faster and more easily today through the internet, social media and instant messaging. These messages may contain useless, incorrect or even harmful information and advice, which can hamper the public health response and add to social disorder and division. Confusingly some fake …

Restrictions on everyday life in Germany have again been tightened significantly as the federal government announced a new set of nationwide measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease. The chancellor and the prime ministers of the 16 federal states agreed on the new package of measures at a conference call on Sunday and it includes new regulations on …

Germany’s state and federal leaders are yet to decide on whether to impose a nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Bavaria has introduced drastic measures of its own, but other states have also edged closer to curfews. Several German states are imposing drastic lockdown measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The federal government has still stopped short declaring a state …

This easy-to-use messaging service has the potential to reach 2 billion people and enables WHO to get information directly into the hands of the people that need it GENEVA, Switzerland, March 21, 2020/ — Today, WHO is launching a messaging service with partners WhatsApp and Facebook to keep people safe from coronavirus. This easy-to-use messaging service has the potential to …

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the world, causing mass disruptions to daily life – rattling markets, suspending travel plans, cancelling sports and music events, the disease is instigating a reappraisal of life as we know it. Our contributing editor and medical doctor at the Berlin Charité hospital, Michael Nnaji, writes on important lessons to be drawn from the crisis. …

To prevent a widespread infection of their populations, African countries are increasingly imposing travel restrictions to keep out people from countries that have a high number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Nigeria is the latest country to take the drastic step of imposing entry bans as part drastic measures to stop the spread of the virus in the country. “The Federal …