A 53-year-old Chinese national has been granted R20,000 bail in the Durban magistrate's court in connection with charges related to contravening the Disaster Management Act.
The man was arrested by a multidisciplinary team on Sunday for allegedly locking up 14 employees for several days and forcing them to produce masks in response to the demand created by the outbreak of the coronavirus.
After a tip-off, inspectors from the KZN department of economic development Consumer Protection Unit made the arrest and rescued 14 workers at the firm in Glen Anil.
A mum of twin boys has died in hospital just days after falling ill with contracting coronavirus symptoms - despite having no underlying health conditions.
Caroline Saunby, 48, from New Marske, North Yorkshire, died at James Cook University Hospital.
Her grieving twin sister Sarah Jarvis issued a stark after the death of the mum of two six-year-old boys death, which she said had ripped their shocked family apart.
Mrs Jarvis warned that the tragedy showed that the deadly illness could strike anyone, saying her sister had taken "every precaution under the sun".
She told The Sun : "People believe that because they are young and healthy they aren't at risk but are the reality of how coronavirus can change anyone's life."
Mrs Jarvis described her sister as a germaphobe who washed her hands constantly.
She said: "She was practising social distancing, she was washing her hands, took hers and everyone's safety seriously, was healthy - yet she was taken from us in only four days.
"This virus does not discriminate."
Teesside Live reports that the said the mum had began getting symptoms of the virus on Thursday and had originally thought her sore throat was a bout of tonsillitis.
But by Sunday Mrs Saunby was experiencing breathing difficulties and she had collapsed at home.
An ambulance and air ambulance were rushed to her home, where she was placed on ventilator support.
She was then taken to hospital, where she later tragically died.
A Facebook user, Adebayo Ireoluwa has shared photos of how his daughter is currently dealing with the coronavirus lockdown. The little miss had gone to pick up a cream, used it to mess up her hair then tried to pour the rest on her sleeping dad.
Her shocked father, shared the photos and credited his wife, saying, women are doing a great job, as he would be witnessing such for the first time because he is never at home due to work. Crediting his wife and asking other men to also appreciate their wives, he wrote:
"After this isolation or whatsoever, I'll appreciate my wife the more,imagine my girl emptying a whole hair cream on herself and still coming to share me some in my sleep jeje, this innocent woman has shouted leave there more than 30 times in 5minutes,and me will just put on one yeye suit go out and come back home expecting to eat the meal and still eat the maker of the meal..
"Please, let's appreciate our wives the more,they go though a lot in our absence...This few days at home seems like I should faint,how much more someone who is always home to put things in place. I tender an unreserved apology to my wife for my previous gragras and shakaras, it's not easy. Thank you COVID19 for lessons taught."
Comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede says being infected with the coronavirus has given him an opportunity to be humble.
Speaking in a short clip from where he's receiving treatment in isolation last night, he said;
“I am very grateful for your prayers. In reality, your prayers are helping me recover very quickly.
“Allah knows better but I thank Allah for giving me the opportunity to be sick because it gives me the opportunity to humble myself, to also know that I am loved by such a large number of people.
“Today, the 1st of April, I am sending this short video to you to tell you I’m doing well and recovering gradually.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos state on Tuesday, March 24, issued a sit-at-home order across the state to enable the government tackle further spread of coronavirus. A week later, President Muhammadu Buhari in a nationwide broadcast, ordered a lockdown across Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states as part of measures to curb the disease.
However, since the lockdown order by Buhari took effect on Monday, 30th March by 11pm, there have been many criticisms and outcries as citizens lambasted government for not providing palliatives to enable people cope during the shutdown.
With over a week into lockdown for residents of Lagos state, some Lagosians have taken to the streets to lament and even challenge members of the state’s task force.
In a clip making the rounds on social media, the residents stated that hunger and epileptic power supply makes it difficult for them to stay at home.
28-year-old Italian nurse, Antonio De Pace allegedly strangled his doctor girlfriend, Lorena Quaranta, to death because “she gave him Coronavirus.”
Lorena Quaranta, 27, was found dead after her boyfriend Antonio De Pace allegedly called the police to report that he had killed her.
The Sun reports that tests were carried out on both, but it came back negative, meaning neither Lorena or De Pace had the virus.
Is this power-drunk or what? The Commissioner for Water Resources in Kogi State, Abdulmumuni Danga, has brutalised and allegedly r*ped a lady for calling him out on Facebook.
The lady, identified as Elizabeth, had urged the commissioner on Facebook to assist his sister and family financially.
The post did not go down well with Danga, who hired thugs to kidnap Elizabeth from her home with her three-year-old son.
Speaking with SR, Elizabeth said she decided to make the post following series of complaints by the commissioner’s sister to her.
She said, “I saw a post by a local comedian of the commissioner sharing food and his family are complaining that he doesn’t attend to them, that was why I made the post.
“On the 29th of March, I made a post about the commissioner. After making the post, they started attacking me on social media and he sent some guys to come and get me.
“On getting to me, they flogged me. He flogged me himself, stripped me n"ked and made a video of me threatening to post it when next I make any public comment about it.
“They also made me apologise that what I said about him was not true under duress. I had to do so because they were all over me.
“The commissioner also smashed my phone and destroyed it totally, saying that maybe I might have been recording what was happening or I have been recording before getting there.”
In a video of the apology, it could be seen that Elizabeth and the commissioner's sister were both teary while being recorded.
Narrating how the commissioner r*ped her, Elizabeth said that he held her captive and took her to a hotel at night where he forcefully had s*x with her.
“He did not release me and took me to a hotel nearby. Over the night, he made advances and r*ped me."
Leading the demand for justice for the victim is Dorothy Njemanze, a rights advocate.
She said that a coalition of human rights organisations had been set-up to ensure that the victim gets justice and duly compensated.
She also called for the immediate suspension of the commissioner from the cabinet of the State governor.
She said, “The lady was brutalised and was also s*xually violated before released the next day. We are going all out for justice."
The commissioner was not available for comments at the time this report was published by SR as calls placed to his mobile lines went unanswered.
The Federal Government has reviewed the lockdown procedure just as COVID-19 cases rose to 174 with 35 new cases across the country.
In the new guidelines released to journalists by the National Coordinator for the fight against COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, during a press conference organised by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, supermarkets, food stores, pharmacies and markets are exempted from the lockdown, but must operate under strict rules..
He said all residents of the two states and the FCT would be confined to their homes, except for the purpose of performing an essential service, obtaining essential goods or service or seeking medical care.
Borders between Ogun and Lagos to be shut
The coordinator also said, “Borders linking the two states and the FCT to the rest of the country will be shut during the period of the lockdown, except for the transport of persons on essential duties, transport of food, fuel, manufactured goods or donated relief items. Security agencies are please invited to note these.”
Gathering of over 20 people banned
According to him, gatherings are prohibited, except for funeral services as guided by infection control and prevention regulations, for which social distancing rules still apply and crowds are limited to not more than 20 persons.
He also said, “Movement between and within the two affected states and the FCT is restricted, except for workers involved in the delivery of essential services, duties, foods and goods.
“Retail shops and malls must be closed except where essential goods are being sold. Shops and malls that are opened for this reason must enforce social distancing and hygienic measures in line with issued guidelines.
“Any business or organisation providing essential goods and services must identify the workers who will perform these activities.
Bus services suspended, except for essential services
Commuters services between cities and states, including passenger services, bus services, e-hailing services, maritime and air passenger transport are suspended for the period of the lockdown in the affected states and the FCT.”
He, however, noted that limited transport services would be allowed for the movement of workers, services and goods in response to COVID-19 and for the purpose of seeking medical attention or provision of essential services.
Such transport services, Aliyu said, must implement social distancing and hygienic measures.
Drivers on essential duties must ensure passenger spacing, disinfect vehicles
He stated, “With regard to the carriage of passengers, we must ensure spacing in between passengers, clean and disinfect frequently touched parts, including door and window handles, steering wheels and dashboards and encourage passengers to perform hand hygiene frequently.”
According to him, all owners of supermarkets must not allow anybody with high temperature to enter their premises, adding that customers and staff must wash their hands.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related offences on Wednesday said its men had arrested a 42-year-old pharmacist, Abubarkar Danraka, for alleged sodomy.
A statement by an official of the Press Unit of NAPTIP, Osamuyi Oyegun, said Danraka who had a PhD, was arrested after he allegedly had an anal s*xual inter-course with a 12 year-old boy.
Oyegun said the offence was contrary to the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.
According to him, the suspect, who is a resident of Spring Valley Estate of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja works at the National Hospital, Abuja is the Special Assistant (Technical) to the Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja.
He added that Danraka, who hails from Zaria, Kaduna State is also an imam in the mosque within his estate.
Oyegun said the 12-year-old victim (name withheld) told NAPTIP men that the crime took place on Saturday, March 21, 2020, at the residence of the suspect.
According to him, after their religious educational programme (Islamiyya) that afternoon, he decided to check on his friend who happens to be a neighbour of the suspect.
He explained that when he got to his friend’s residence, he knocked at the door, but there was no response.
He added that as he made to leave the Imam opened his door and beckoned on him to come.
The suspect was said to appeared friendly and offered the victim a glass of water which the boy took and later began to feel weak.
“In that state of weakness the suspect overpowered him, laid him on a red settee in his sitting room and forced his penis into his (victim) anus.
“After the suspect was done, he asked him to go home with a stern warning not to mention what had happened to anyone."
The Lagos State COVID-19 Taskforce, mandated by the State Government to monitor and enforce compliance against public gatherings exceeding 25 people, was on Tuesday attacked by some Muslim worshippers at the Agege Central Mosque.
Speaking on the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and leader of the Taskforce, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe condemned the attack and described it as barbaric and uncalled for, saying “our people are out to protect the residents of the State and yet were attacked for doing their jobs”.
She stated that the State Government will not hesitate to sanction violators to serve as a deterrent to others, adding that it was obvious the gathering did not comply with the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on public gathering and social distancing.
According to her, Taskforce team COVID-19, comprising of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos Safety Commission and the Rapid Response Squad, saw the Muslim faithful observing their evening prayer (Solatul Eshai) in a large congregation, contrary to the directive on total lockdown to stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
Coronavirus: 300 Muslim worshippers attack Lagos Taskforce
The Lagos State COVID-19 Taskforce, mandated by the State Government to monitor and enforce compliance against public gatherings exceeding 25 people, was on Tuesday attacked by some Muslim worshippers at the Agege Central Mosque.
Speaking on the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and leader of the Taskforce, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe condemned the attack and described it as barbaric and uncalled for, saying “our people are out to protect the residents of the State and yet were attacked for doing their jobs”.
She stated that the State Government will not hesitate to sanction violators to serve as a deterrent to others, adding that it was obvious the gathering did not comply with the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on public gathering and social distancing.
According to her, Taskforce team COVID-19, comprising of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos Safety Commission and the Rapid Response Squad, saw the Muslim faithful observing their evening prayer (Solatul Eshai) in a large congregation, contrary to the directive on total lockdown to stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
“However, a drama ensued when some of the Muslim youths sighted the team and became aggressive, unruly and started to attack the team. Others in the mosque, numbering about 300 rushed out chanting ALLAHU AKBAR and joined them in the attack by throwing stones at the vehicles. All entreaties to talk to the Imam failed as the youth were persistent. But the Police escort rose to the occasion by curbing further attacks and ensuring the safety of the team”, she disclosed.
Fasawe revealed that the Agency has been enjoying support and compliance from religious houses and was surprised that the congregation of a mosque that was visited last week could default and also attack government officials trying to enforce compliance.
In her words, “The team has visited several places of worship and have been able to enlighten them and advocate the social distancing approach in all gatherings. But in this instance, the mosque was filled to capacity. The essence of social distancing is to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. The people are endangering their lives and those of their neighbours”.
While noting that the State Government remains committed to protecting all residents, Dr. Fasawe promised to escalate the matter to appropriate quarters because such gathering should not be allowed to continue in the interest of all.
A six-week-old infant has died of complications relating to COVID-19, the governor of the US state of Connecticut said Wednesday, in one of the youngest recorded deaths from the virus.
Governor Ned Lamont tweeted that the newborn was "brought unresponsive to a hospital late last week and could not be revived."
"Testing confirmed last night that the newborn was COVID-19 positive," Lamont said.
"This is absolutely heartbreaking. We believe this is one of the youngest lives lost anywhere due to complications relating to COVID-19."
Last week Illinois authorities said they were investigating the death of a child "younger than one year" who had tested positive for coronavirus.
East Africa superstar Diamond Platnumz’s manager Sallam Sharaf has announced that he has recovered from coronavirus.
He shared the news that he has been released form isolation after 14-day quarantine. He shared the news of his recovery through his Instagram page.
“After 14 days, I got tested twice and both results came back negative and now I am out of Isolation Centre. Thanks to Allah, thanks to doctors, nurses and the government,” read part of his post.
The Wasafi manager also thanked those who took their time to check up on him during that period.
“Nimshukuru Allah na pia niwashukuru wote mlionitumia msg, comments, DM na dua zenu. Bila kuwasahau Temeke Isolation Centre kwa kuwa bega na bega pamoja na mie bila kunichoka pale nilipokuwa nimezidiwa, na shukurani zangu zingine ziende kwa Madaktari bingwa kujua maendeleo yangu mara kwa mara na pia Serikali yangu na viongozi wake husika Wizara na Mkoa walikuwa hawana ubaguzi kutujulia hali na kutupa moyo na kutupa mahitaji tutakayo,” said Sharaf.
Sharaf urged his fellow Tanzanians to take the necessary precautions and to follow the government’s directive in order to stop the spread of the virus.
Thailand’s controversial king has been self-isolating in a luxury hotel in the Alpine resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen with his entourage.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, is said to have booked out the entire Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl after the four-star hotel received “special permission” from the district council to accommodate his party.
The 67-year-old king’s entourage included a “harem” of 20 concubines and numerous servants, reported German tabloid Bild. It is unclear if his four wives are living in the hotel with the rest of the group.
Guesthouses and hotels in the region were ordered to close due to the coronavirus crisis, but a spokesperson for the local district council said the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl was an exception because “the guests are a single, homogenous group of people with no fluctuation”.
However, 119 members of the entourage had been reportedly sent back to Thailand on suspicions they contracted the highly contagious respiratory disease.
News of Vajiralongkorn’s apparent self-isolation in a luxury location was met with anger by tens of thousands of Thai people, who risked breaking the country’s lèse-majesté laws by criticising him online.
Under the laws, anyone who insults or criticises the monarchy could be imprisoned for up to 15 years.
But a Thai hashtag which translated to “Why do we need a king?” appeared 1.2 million times on Twitter within 24 hours after an activist claimed Vijaralongkorn was travelling on holiday in Germany while the outbreak continued to spread across Thailand.
The Thai Ministry of Public Health announced on Saturday 109 new cases in the country, bringing the total number of infections to 1,245.
A city in China has banned its residents from eating dog and cat meat with a groundbreaking new law in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Animal activists have demanded the Chinese government prohibit the consumption of pets for years, and the new accord is the first of its kind in the country.
The legislation was yesterday passed by lawmakers in Shenzhen, a city of around 13 million people, and will take effect on May 1, according to a government notice.
One charity group hailed the passage as a 'historic decision' which marked 'a watershed moment' in the animal protection in China.
The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals.
Apart from dogs, the regulations bar snake, frog and turtle meat from the dinner table.
The news comes after China banned all trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed responsible for the country's deadly virus epidemic.
With the proliferation of new coronavirus cases in neighboring states, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has imposed new restrictions on residents.
These are: No citizen or resident of the state will be allowed to leave home without a face mask from Friday.
Failure to adhere to this directive will lead to the arrest and quarantine of the offender for 14 days.
The Cross River State garment factory has been mandated to produce face masks to be distributed free to citizens and residents alike to meet with the demand.
Those who for one reason or the other are unable to get masks from government before the new restrictions kick in are advised to purchase theirs from shops selling the item.
All public gatherings remain banned markets should remain closed except where foodstuff is sold.
All exit and entry points into the state are now completely shut. No human or vehicular movement will be allowed into the state under any disguise.
Former Somali Prime Minister Nur Hussein died on Wednesday in Britain, about a week after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Hussein’s family confirmed the death at King’s College Hospital in London.
The former prime minister served between November 2007 and February 2009 in the transitional government of Somalia.
The current Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Khaire, mourned the death of Hussein.
“My deepest condolences to the people of Somalia and to the family of former Prime Minister who died in London.
“I pray to Allah to let his soul rest in peace,” Khaire said in a statement.
Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA) and Lagos State Safety Commission on Wednesday sealed off a warehouse of Jumia, an online marketing store for contravening the lockdown order by the Federal government.
The agencies also sealed off SPN Packaging Studio Press Nigeria Plc on Plot B, Israel Adebajo Close, Ikeja and Supreme Hotel in Agege.
The action, followed a tip-off that the firms’ directed their workers to resume duties despite the stay at home order announced by the Federal Government.
A drama ensued at both firms when the combined team of the agencies including police officers stormed the companies to enforce compliance.
The guards at Jumia warehouse refused to open the gate for the enforcement team.
They said the gates were locked from inside and the keys have been taken away by their boss.
The agencies’ officials were jolted, wondering how those in the warehouse would escape if a fire break out. They immediately ordered the sealing of the place.
The sealed plaster reads: “Lagos State Safety Commission Sealed. This premises has been sealed following the violation of the safety law. This seal must not be broken or removed.”
At SPN Packaging Studio Press Nigeria Plc, the team was allowed in but met some workers in the factory.
The LASEPA and Safety commission team ordered the Chinese and some Nigerians out of the factory before sealing the company.
At the Supreme Hotel, no fewer than 60 s*x workers and their clients were chased out of the hotel.
