Nigeria has more cases of coronavirus than reported, data collection is faulty in the country - Toke Makinwa

Toke Makinwa sent out a goodwill message to her followers via Instastory videos in which she shared her thoughts about coronavirus in Nigeria. 

The media personality who revealed that she doesn't believe there are only 3 coronavirus cases in Nigeria, stated that there are more cases of the deadly disease in Nigeria than reported. According to her, data collection in the country is faulty and the figures may not be right. 

Toke Makinwa who admonished her followers to maintain proper hygiene, described Nigeria as a country where everyone loves to self-medicate. 

Watch the videos below; 

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#Nigeria has more cases of #coronavirus than reported, data collection in the country is faulty - #TokeMakinwa

Un post condiviso da Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial) in data: 18 Mar 2020 alle ore 12:47 PDT

South Africa now has 116 confirmed cases of coronavirus

South Africa recorded a spike in coronavirus cases in the country in the late hours of Tuesday, as 31 new cases have now been confirmed.



In the early hours of Tuesday, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa stood at 85.







Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has now confirmed there are 116 confirmed positive cases in the country, out of which there are 14 local transmissions.



In a statement he issued, Mkhize disclosed they have collated background information on how these patients were infected.



He said;




“Today we have a further increase of six local transmission cases. As part of tracking and tracing, we have collated background information on how these patients were infected. We will provide more information to the public to make them aware of how these local transmissions occur.

"We will however not disclose full details as this information is subject to patient confidentiality which we are bound by.

"I must inform the public that there was a debate with clinicians, epidemiologists [and] virologists on when we, as government must release results to the public. These experts raised an issue of an ethical obligation to immediately alert patients as soon as the results become available.

"This therefore means that by the time a confirmation test is conducted in public laboratories, patients would have been notified of their initial results. This clarification is important because as government, we had announced to the public that all positive results will be verified through our public laboratories and the NICD.

"In instances where our confirmation tests give contrary results, we will inform the public, make reference to that specific result previously announced and give the outcome of the confirmation results"



Among the new cases in the country is a 2-year-old boy from the Western Cape who has not travelled internationally. This is the youngest confirmed case.



Here are information about other confirmed cases below;




-A 45 year-old male who had travelled to Belgium, UK, France and the US

-A 37 year-old male who had travelled to the UK

-A 54 year-old female who had travelled to the USA

-A 52 year-old male who had travelled to the UK

-A 25 year-old male who travelled to the UK

-A 52 year-old female who had travelled to Italy

-A 59 year-old male who travelled to the UK and Dubai

-A 57 year-old male who travelled to the USA

-A 60 year-old male who travelled to the USA

-A 37 year-old female who travelled to Italy and Dubai

-A 21 year-old female with no travel history

-A 34 year-old male with no international travel history

-A 26 year-old female with no international travel history

-A 32 year-old female with no international travel history



There are four new cases in KwaZulu-Natal:

-A 48 year-old male who travelled to Dubai

-A 59 year-old female with no international travel history

-A 5 year-old male with no international travel history

-A 3 year-old male with no international travel history



There are five new cases in the Western Cape:

-A 3 year-old male who travelled to the UK

-A 58 year-old male who travelled to the UK and Austria

-A 2 year-old male with no international travel

-A 62 year-old female who travelled to the UK and Ethiopia

-A 71 year-old female who travelled to the UK

"I'm gutted. I'm shaking." Kathy Griffin says as she announces the death of her mother Maggie Griffin at 99

Award-winning American comedian Kathy Griffin just lost her mum and she took to Twitter to make the announcement.



She said her mum, Maggie Griffin, was her best friend and her death has left her shaking and gutted.



She wrote: "My Mom, the one and only, Maggie Griffin, passed away today. I am gutted. My best friend. I’m shaking. I won’t ever be prepared. I’m so grateful you guys got to be part of her life. You knew her. You loved her. She knew it. Oh, and OF COURSE she went on St Patrick’s Day. ??? "





Maggie Griffin was 99.

Idris Elba responds following backlash over having wife Sabrina Dhowre by his side while announcing he tested positive for coronavirus

Idris Elba announced that he tested positive for coronavirus and during his announcement, his wife, Sabrina was beside him. This led to a backlash and the actor has now responded.



Sabrina sat next to Idris on as he announced on Monday, March 16, that he had Coronavirus (read here), and many believed that she should have been quarantined away from him since she had not been tested at that time.



The actor went live on Twitter and explained how he is feeling after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He also addressed the controversy and explained why Sabrina stayed too close to him.



He said: "Yesterday was good and bad. Bad because I tested positive, but it was also good because it opened up a lot of conversation around it. I think it made it a lot more real for some people. Definitely made it more real for me and my family.



"There was so many positive responses to, you know, me talking about it. Some negative too. But there were some definite positive ones. I certainly felt…my wife and I felt like it was the right thing to do, to share it with you guys.



"Right now though, I am feeling okay. Woke up this morning, didn’t have any symptoms. My voice is a little tired…checking my fever twice a day. Feel good, feel okay. Been doing a lot of reading about it. You know, asymptomatic is what comes up."



Addressing the controversy over his wife being beside him despite how contagious the virus is, Idris said, "Sabrina‘s good too. Sabrina today finally managed to get a test, and we’re thankful for that. Generally, Sabrina‘s fine. Nervous of course. Worried. Just for clarification, Sabrina wanted to be by my side."



He continued, "We calculated that risk and decided to be together. Hope you guys can understand that."



He explained that they figured she probably had it as well after his diagnosis. He also added it meant the world to him to have her support.



Watch the video below.




https://t.co/3Y98aND7Dv— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 17, 2020




https://t.co/RQpmkcgtYU— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 17, 2020

Update: Family member of UK returnee who became third case of coronavirus in Nigeria, tests negative

Ayo Alaba, President of Birdsview Group has served an update after announcing that the UK returnee who tested positive for coronavirus has been living with a staff of his company since Saturday March 14, till Tuesday morning when the test result was released.



He revealed that after they received a notice about a possible COVID-19 exposure among their staff, they swung into extreme actions by placing the office building under lock and keys, suspending business operations, and subjecting all employees that could have been in contact with the staff to mandatory and monitored quarantine.



Ayo disclosed that a medical test carried carried on a staff who had a close contact with a family member who tested positive for the virus, came out negative. He added that they will be taking further precautionary measure to disinfect their Ikeja office building today March 18.



He wrote;




In the wake of the notice received by our HR unit about a possible COVID-19 exposure among our staff, our business swung into extreme actions by placing the office building under lock and keys, suspending business operations, and subjecting all employees that could have been in contact with the staff to mandatory and monitored quarantine, separate from their families, till we received the result of the test carried out on the exposed staff. Our business had since been placed on emergency mode and was prepared for both best cases and worst cases. .

I can now confirm the bright development that our staff tested negative to the virus in the early minutes of today. While this sounds like a big relief to Nigeria and Nigerians, it is a testament to the pandemic nature of COVID-19, and should not be taken for granted by anyone and for any reason. .

We extend our solidarity to everyone fighting the virus, especially our staff’s cousin who recently tested positive. We pray that they are blessed with the strength and fortitude to withstand the waiting time for the virus to run its course. .

Going forward, we will be taking further precautionary measure to disinfect our Ikeja office building today, March 18, air it out tomorrow, and resume business as usual on Friday. We take health and safety very seriously and will stop at nothing to ensure that our staff and clients are at their tip-top always. .

Stay safe and stay healthy, as we work together to win COVID-19 together

Idris Elba responds following backlash over having wife Sabrina Dhowre by his side while announcing he tested positive for coronavirus

Idris Elba announced that he tested positive for coronavirus and during his announcement, his wife, Sabrina was beside him. This led to a backlash and the actor has now responded.



Sabrina sat next to Idris on as he announced on Monday, March 16, that he had Coronavirus (read here), and many believed that she should have been quarantined away from him since she had not been tested at that time.



The actor went live on Twitter and explained how he is feeling after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He also addressed the controversy and explained why Sabrina stayed too close to him.



He said: "Yesterday was good and bad. Bad because I tested positive, but it was also good because it opened up a lot of conversation around it. I think it made it a lot more real for some people. Definitely made it more real for me and my family.



"There was so many positive responses to, you know, me talking about it. Some negative too. But there were some definite positive ones. I certainly felt…my wife and I felt like it was the right thing to do, to share it with you guys.



"Right now though, I am feeling okay. Woke up this morning, didn’t have any symptoms. My voice is a little tired…checking my fever twice a day. Feel good, feel okay. Been doing a lot of reading about it. You know, asymptomatic is what comes up."



Addressing the controversy over his wife being beside him despite how contagious the virus is, Idris said, "Sabrina‘s good too. Sabrina today finally managed to get a test, and we’re thankful for that. Generally, Sabrina‘s fine. Nervous of course. Worried. Just for clarification, Sabrina wanted to be by my side."



He continued, "We calculated that risk and decided to be together. Hope you guys can understand that."



He explained that they figured she probably had it as well after his diagnosis. He also added it meant the world to him to have her support.



Watch the video below.




https://t.co/3Y98aND7Dv— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 17, 2020




https://t.co/RQpmkcgtYU— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 17, 2020

World boxing champion and trainer, Roger Mayweather dies at 58

Roger Mayweather, a two-time world champion turned trainer and uncle of undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather, has died at the age of 58.



The former American boxer, who had struggled with diabetes, was a two-weight world champion in stellar 72-fight career that spanned 17 years.



He trained his nephew Floyd when he turned professional in 1996 for two years until Floyd Sr was released from prison. Roger returned to his corner in 2000 and was his trainer until 2012 as he became the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.







Confirming his death, Mayweather said: "My uncle was one of the most important people in my life inside and outside of the ring."

"Roger was a great champion and one of the best trainers in boxing. Unfortunately, his health was failing him for several years and now he can finally rest in peace.

"Roger meant the world to me, my father Floyd Sr., my uncle Jeff, our whole family, everyone in and around the Mayweather Boxing Gym and the entire boxing world. It is a terrible loss for all of us."







Mayweather Sr, who was nicknamed the Black Mamba won 59 of his 72 professional fights that included major fights against Julio Cesar Chavez and Pernell Whitaker and held the WBA and lineal super-featherweight titles from 1983 to 1984, and the WBC light welterweight title from 1987 to 1989.





Floyd Mayweather is also mourning the death of his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his three children, Josie Harris, who was found dead outside her Los Angeles home last week.

Actress Monica Friday drags actor Zubby Michael for saying Organizers of AMVCA are "Yorubas" and didn't recognize the "pillars of Nollywood"

Nollywood actress, Monica Friday took to Instagram to slam actor Zubby Michael for the comments he made about the AMVCA.



Zubby called the AMVCA a "joke" and said it is "highly political". He added that the organizers are Yoruba people and they failed to "recognize the pillars of Nollywood." (read here).











Reacting to Zubby's comments, which many consider tribalistic, Monica Friday said: "How they judge a movie is not your business."



She encouraged the actor to begin organizing his own award ceremony and give his award to whom he deems fit if he thinks AMVCA organizers are partial to one tribe.



She went on to state how the AMVCA winners are picked and added that his comments could elicit tribal sentiments because some people look up to him.

Lebron James and his Los Angeles Lakers' teammates to undergo coronavirus testing today

NBA star, LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers' teammates will undergo testing for the coronavirus today, March 18. 

Sources at the basketball club confirmed to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, following the Brooklyn Nets' announcement that four players including Kevin Durant have tested positive for the virus.

The Lakers played the Brooklyn Nets' in their last game before the NBA suspended play last Wednesday following a positive test by Rudy Gobert of Utah Jazz. 

The Lakers will self-quarantine for 14 days. Most of the Lakers are still in town, so testing should not be a logistical issue, sources told ESPN.

"Given the exposure risks from our game against the Nets on March 10th, we are following the next steps of our COVID-19 procedures and protocol that are established in consultation with various health officials, the NBA and our UCLA Health doctors," the Lakers said. "The health and well-being of our players, staff, fans, and society in general, is of paramount importance to us, and will continue to be our focus.``

This comes a day after the Nets announced that four players including Kevin Durant have tested positive for the coronavirus. The Nets said they had reached out to anyone known to have had contact with the players.

In addition, Utah's Donovan Mitchell and the Detroit Pistons' Christian Wood are the other two basketballers that have tested positive for the virus.

Sanusi's dethronement: Chief singer of Kano emirate council resigns

Naziru Ahmad popularly known as Naziru Sarkin Waka has resigned as the ‘chief singer’ of Kano emirate council, days after Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was dethroned as the Emir of Kano.



His resignation came after the principal private secretary to the deposed emir, Mujtaba Abba also resigned.



Naziru Ahmad expressed gratitude for the said appointment and opportunity to have served with the Emirate council for the past one year. He wrote in the resignation letter addressed to the Secretary, Kano emirate council;




“I write formally to inform you that from Monday March 13th, 2020, I have voluntarily resigned my appointment as ‘Sarkin Wakar San Kano’ with effect from 13th March 2020.

“This is to humbly appreciate my appointment and express my loyalty to not only the council, but the state as well.

“I wish to express my sincere gratitude for the said appointment and opportunity to served with the Emirate council for the past one year, I has been a rewarding experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”