Welcome to A Week of COVID-19, the weekly newsletter on coronavirus pandemic from Daily Trust. I am Khadijat Lawal, a content creator and social media manager.
Another week, and COVID-19 is still here. Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai has issued a 12-day ultimatum to all civil servants in the state to get vaccinated against the deadly COVID-19 virus. If you’re yet to get the jab, kindly do so ASAP!
UK experts have said that a new mutated form of coronavirus that some are calling “Delta Plus” may spread more easily than then regular Delta variant.
A standoff in Chicago is urging officers to defy a vaccine mandate, this is the latest battle line being drawn in a nationwide fight over Covid-19 jabs.
El-Rufai Issues 12-Day Ultimatum To Workers To Take COVID-19 Vaccine
Governor Nasir El-Rufai has issued a 12-day ultimatum for all civil servants in the state to get vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus disease.
The governor, according to a statement by his special adviser on media and communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, said evidence of vaccination will be a requirement to gain access to their offices from October 31.
Nigeria Records 33 New COVID-19 Deaths
Nigeria recorded 33 deaths and 125 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has shown.
The NCDC, in its daily COVID-19 report said, till date, 209,298 cases had been confirmed, 197,143 discharged; while 2,837 deaths had been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
COVID-19: Are We Neglecting Other Diseases?
The US Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA) approved the first long-acting drug combination for HIV (which would mean monthly injections that can replace daily pills) this year. This breakthrough was hardly noticed or celebrated in the news. This is amidst many proofs that the landscape of discourse about global health has almost entirely revolved around COVID-19 in recent times.
The narrowed conversation driven by the impacts of the current pandemic will neglect already neglected diseases across the world, especially in Africa. While malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and HIV/AIDS are still among the significant causes of death in Africa, the existing refocusing of already limited resources on COVID-19 could lead to millions of excess deaths and disabilities through malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) mortality and morbidity. Click this link to read the letter.
Delta ‘Plus’ Covid variant may be more transmissible
A new mutated form of coronavirus that some are calling “Delta Plus” may spread more easily than regular Delta, UK experts now say.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has moved it up into the “variant under investigation” category, to reflect this possible risk. There is no evidence yet that it causes worse illness.
Crime-hit Chicago grapples with police vaccine revolt
A standoff in Chicago, where the head of the city’s largest police union is urging officers to defy a vaccine mandate, is the latest battle line being drawn in a nationwide fight over Covid-19 jabs.
Chicago, a city of nearly three million people, has seen more than 1,600 sexual assaults, nearly 3,000 shootings and 649 murders this year – a 14% increase over last. Just as violent crimes have risen, though, thousands of the city’s police force may not show up to work.
