Health

RIYADH, Apr 18 (NNN-WAM) – The Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and President of the Council of Senior Scholars and General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh, stated that, if it is impossible to perform Taraweh and Eid prayers in the mosques, because of the precautionary measures taken by the Saudi competent authorities, to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, then people will pray at their homes.

ABUJA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Abba Kyari, one of the closest advisers to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, died Friday after contracting the novel coronavirus, becoming the highest-profile casualty of the virus in Africa’s biggest economy.

Buhari named Kyari, a former chief executive officer of United Bank for Africa Plc, as his chief of staff in August 2015, and renewed his appointment after winning a second term in office.

Behind the scenes, he was regarded as one of the powerful politicians in the country of more than 200 million people.

WASHINGTON, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — International financial institutions and African leaders warned the continent needs tens of billions of dollars in additional money to fight the coronavirus pandemic despite debt freezes and massive pledges of support.

In a joint statement, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund said they had each contributed to the US$57 billion mobilized by official creditors to support healthcare and economic recovery on the world’s poorest continent, while US$13 billion came from private funds.

PARIS, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Coronavirus pandemic keeps taking its toll across Europe, one of the worst-hit regions in the world, as the total number of lives lost has crossed the grim threshold of 80,000.

Although Italy and Spain have suffered the most, a slowing of new cases and deaths brings hope.

The two countries are discussing a gradual return to normal. For example, Spain is planning to reopen schools at the end of May.

MOSCOW, Apr 18 (NNN-TASS) – Russia registered a daily record of 4,070 cases, over the last 24 hours, with the total number reaching 32,008.

The death toll climbed to 273 from 232 the previous day, while 2,590 people have recovered, including 286 in the last 24 hours, Russia’s virus response centre said in a statement.

The Altai Republic confirmed its first case, meaning the pandemic has now spread to all of Russia’s 85 regions.

Moscow, the worst-hit city across the country, confirmed 1,959 new cases over the last 24 hours, reporting 18,105 cases so far.

Kochi, Apr 17 (PTI) The Centre on Friday informed the Kerala High Court that there was no immediate plan to bring back the Indian citizens stranded in the Gulf countries due to the novel coronavirus outbreak and that the expatriates had been granted visa extension.

The counsel for the central government made the submission before a division bench comprising justices Rajavijayaraghavan and T R Ravi during the hearing of a plea seeking a direction to bring back Indians stranded in the UAE.

London, Apr 17 (AP) A leading public health expert said Friday that Britain likely has the highest coronavirus death rate in Europe due to what he described as system errors, while the government defended its record in responding to the pandemic.

Anthony Costello, director of the Institute for Global Health at University College London, said the U.K. could see 40,000 deaths by the time the first wave of the country's outbreak is over.

London, Apr 17 (AFP/PTI) London's transport authorities on Friday announced new measures to protect bus drivers from coronavirus, as colleagues held a minute's silence for 20 who have already died.

Mayor Sadiq Khan, whose father was a bus driver, led tributes to the victims as authorities said passengers would no longer be able to use the front door near the driver.

Amaravati(AP), Apr 17 (PTI) The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday imported one lakh rapid test kits (RTKs) from South Korea to step up Covid-19 testing in the state.

The AP government chartered a special flight to import the RTKs from Seoul directly to Vijayawada airport.

Mumbai, Apr 16 (PTI) Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Shambhuraje Desai on Thursday said the state government's `demand' of special trains for taking migrants back to their home states was valid.

Speaking to a Marathi news channel, Desai said that Shiv Sena leader and state tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray had been saying that migrant labours stranded in Maharashtra should have been allowed to return to their home states.