Google and Apple team up to develop tracing app for virus cases

Apple and Google are jointly developing technology to alert people if they have recently come into contact with others found to be infected with coronavirus.

They hope to initially help third-party contact-tracing apps run efficiently.

But ultimately, they aim to do away with the need to download dedicated apps, to encourage the practice.

The two companies believe their approach - designed to keep users, whose participation would be voluntary, anonymous - addresses privacy concerns.

Their contact-tracing method would work by using a smartphone's Bluetooth signals to determine to whom the owner had recently been in proximity for long enough to have established contagion a risk.

If one of those people later tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, a warning would be sent to the original handset owner.

No GPS location data or personal information would be recorded.

"Privacy, transparency and consent are of utmost importance in this effort and we look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders," Apple and Google said in a joint statement.

"We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyse."

President Trump said his administration needed time to consider the development.

"It's very interesting, but a lot of people worry about it in terms of a person's freedom," he said during a White House press conference.

"We're going to take... a very strong look at it, and we'll let you know pretty soon."

The European Union's Data Protection Supervisor sounded more positive, saying: "The initiative will require further assessment, however, after a quick look it seems to tick the right boxes as regards user choice, data protection by design and pan-European interoperability."

But others have noted that the success of the venture may depend on getting enough people tested.

Apple is the developer of iOS. Google is the company behind Android. The two operating systems power the vast majority of smartphones in use.

Some countries - including Singapore, Israel, South Korea and Poland - are already using people's handsets to issue coronavirus contagion alerts.

Other health authorities - including the UK, France and Germany - are working on initiatives of their own. And some municipal governments in the US are reportedly about to adopt a third-party app.

The two technology giants aim to bring coherence to all this by allowing existing third-party apps to be retrofitted to include their solution.

This would make the apps interoperable, so contact tracing would continue to work as people travelled overseas and came into contact with people using a different tool.

Apple and Google have been working on the effort for about two weeks but have not externally revealed their plans until Friday.

If successful, the scheme could help countries relax lockdowns and border restrictions.

Source: BBC news

How Funke Akindele Got into Trouble During Lockdown

On Saturday, April 2, Nollywood star actress and producer, Funke Akindele landed herself in trouble with the authorities after what many have described as a deliberate attempt to flaunt her influence against government regulations on the ravaging novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Funke who is the face of a national campaign on social distancing during the coronavirus lockdown was arrested — for throwing a wild party packed with revelers. She had hosted a group of friends to mark her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz’s 43rd birthday in the confines of her home in Amen Estate, Lagos. That soiree was packed with guests including Lagos politician Babatunde Gbadamosi, controversial singer Naira Marley, and fleshy actress Eniola Badmus, among others, dancing and drinking in close proximity.

Funke, 42, however sparked outrage when the video of the wild party surfaced online and went viral. The apparent hypocrisy sparked numerous online memes, with videos of her PSA splashed together with the packed party. The groundswell of calls for their arrest was overwhelming to the extent that Funke’s goodwill paled into insignificance. The couple was arrested on Sunday and the following day, Monday, arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court in Ogba, Lagos on a one-count charge of holding a party at their residence with over 20 persons in attendance contrary to the social distancing directives made in pursuant to Regulation 8(1)(a) and (b) & 17(1)(i) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 and therefore committed an offence under Section 58 of the Public Health Law Cap P16 Vol. 9, Laws of Lagos State 2015. Both the actress and her husband pleaded guilty to hosting the party despite the coronavirus lockdown an act, which could lead to the spread of Covid-19. They were sentenced to 14 days of community service and fined N100,000 each by the magistrate court. They were also both ordered to make a tour to educate the public on the consequences of non-compliance of the restriction order.

Spotlight gathered that Funke’s ordeal might have a root in her recent refusal to honour her late father even in death. Some of those close to her believe her present crisis might be a spin-off of dishonouring her late father, Very Revd. Godwin Olusoji Akindele, whose funeral she allegedly shunned. Funke had announced the death of her father back in December 2019. But many were stunned when during the final rites on Friday, January 17, 2020 in Ikorodu, Lagos, Funke and her siblings were conspicuously absent to pay their dad the deserved last respect. They were also absent at the Service of Songs the previous day. Their non-attendance was said to have angered the Presiding Bishop, Rt. Rev. S.O Osundina, the Bishop of Ikorodu Diocese, Methodist Church Nigeria, and aborted the rest of the burial programme until Funke and her siblings do the needful.

It was learnt that Funke deliberately left Nigeria few days to the funeral of her dad for Dubai, UAE and returned only a week later. Why Funke and her siblings chose to dishonour their father remains unclear but this action, some claim, could have triggered the present punishment and likely chain reactions from the attendant curse that could follow later for disrespecting one’s parents, especially their funerals. Of course, some could dismiss this as a mere myth but not a few believe the coincidence in Funke’s error is too real to be ignored.

Source: The Sun newsonline

POPE FRANCIS PROSTRATED IN PRAYER

Pope Francis prostrated on the floor of an empty St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday (April 10) to pray at a scaled-down “Passion of the Lord” service commemorating Jesus’ last hours of life and his crucifixion.

The service is one of the rare times when the pope does not deliver a homily, leaving it to Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher of the papal household.

“The pandemic of Coronavirus has abruptly roused us from the greatest danger individuals and humanity have always been susceptible to: the delusion of omnipotence,” Cantalamessa said.

“It took merely the smallest and most formless element of nature, a virus, to remind us that we are mortal, that military power and technology are not sufficient to save us,” he said.

The service is usually attended by cardinals, bishops and some 10,000 faithful.

But it was scaled back because of the coronavirus restrictions and attended by only about two dozen people, including papal aides reading from scriptures and a smaller than usual choir.

World Bank Approves $50M for Kenya Covid 19 Fight

The World Bank has approved $50m requested by Kenya to fund containment efforts of the coronavirus pandemic.  According to Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe, the funds will largely go into boosting capacity of frontline staff – i.e. buying protective gear for health workers, hand sanitizers, increasing bed capacity in hospitals is another area government will focus on. 

According to a report by Africanews.com, Kenya’s health workers are said to have protested the lack of protective gear in hospitals. Many local media outlets have reported the protest

World Bank Criticised for approving loans that allows Pregnant Girls to go to school in Tanzania

 

The World Bank has been accused of undermining human rights and has faced criticism from local and international civil society groups over the Tanzania secondary education quality improvement programme loan. Campaigners say approval should not have been given without first securing a commitment from the government to reverse its discrimination towards pregnant girls and end compulsory pregnancy tests.

A public notice released earlier this week by Tanzania’s education minister, JoyceNdalichako, said: “The target [of the loan] is to reach more than 6.5 million secondary school students across the country, without discrimination and shall include girls who drop out of school for various reasons, including pregnancy.

“The government is committed to ensure that they continue with their education as prescribed in the project.”

Of the 60,000 students who drop out of secondary school every year in Tanzania, 5,500 leave due to pregnancy according to World Bank data.

Tanzania’s ban on pregnant schoolgirls dates back to the 60s. Amid renewed criticism, it was reaffirmed in a 2017 speech by Tanzania’s president, John Magufuli, who stated that “as long as I am president … no pregnant student will be allowed to return to school. We cannot allow this immoral behaviour to permeate our primary and secondary schools.”

Human rights lawyer Judy Gitau, regional coordinator at Equality Now, welcomed Ndalichako’s declaration and said she was “cautiously optimistic” about “the first time the government of Tanzania has publicly announced in an official state document that it will include pregnant girls in secondary school education”

But Elín Martinez, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the Tanzanian government’s positionremained unchanged. She referred to a recent tweet in Swahili from Tanzania’s chief government spokesperson that indicated the government has set up parallel systems for pregnant girls.

“Tanzania will continue to arbitrarily deny pregnant girls the right to study in formal public primary and secondary schools – and they will only have an option of studying in a parallel system, which will now be built using the World Bank’s loan,” said Martínez, adding that the “alternative education pathways” only offer a condensed version of the curriculum, and at a cost.

The World Bank has “undermined its own commitment to non-discrimination and to improving the lives of ‘marginalised groups,’” she said.

Source: The Guardian

COVIOD 19: African countriesHit 3766 Cases, 95 Deaths

The Word Health Organization has revealed that COVID-19 outbreak is rapidly evolving on the African Continent since its last situation report announced on March 25^th 2020, on the subject.

 WHO says four new countries in the WHO African Region, namely Botswana, Burundi, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leonne have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases.

 Forty-two (89%) out of 47 Member States of the WHO African Region are now affected.  The number of cases and deaths has more than doubled since its last report, with new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 65 new deaths reported in the WHO African Region.

As of 1 April 2020, a cumulative total of 3 766 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 95 deaths have been reported across the 42 affected countries in the region.  

 The most affected countries in the WHO African Region are: South Africa (1 353 cases), Algeria (584 cases), Burkina Faso (261 cases), Senegal (175 cases), Cote d’Ivoire (169 cases) and Ghana (152). Together, these countries account for 72% of the cases reported in the region. 

source: allafrica.com

Erroneous Views of Nigerians on COVID 19

Yemi Olakitan

I had wanted to write an opinion piece on Corona virus. The motivation came from listening to the views of ordinary Nigerians especially the semi illiterates and the illiterate, on the dreaded Corona Virus. These views are erroneous as well as they are alarming. One of such view is that Corona Virus is a disease of the rich!

 A while ago when I was going to work, (Journalists are under essential services and cannot shut down operations) I heard the driver say; Corona virus is for the rich! Really?  However hard I tried to reason with him, he insisted that only the rich can contact Corona virus. His reason is that poor people don’t travel abroad to Corona virus infected nations and so cannot be infected. I told him that the rich have poor people around them such as house helps, personal assistants, guards, cooks etc.  This people can easily contact this virus if the master has it and pass it to an ordinary Nigerian on the streets, only then did he finally agree with me.

There is another conspiracy theory, there are those who say that America is responsible for the spread of the virus and that the American Government released the virus into the world like a software computer virus so that they can then come up with a vaccine in order to rip off many nations of the world in huge financial gain. Some vowed the virus was as a result of an economic war between the United States and China. However, there is no evidence this is true.

Some even say people should drink plenty ‘Ogogoro’ a locally made gin regularly, vowing that Ogogoro is a sure remedy for Corona Virus. Although World Health Organization had recommended that regular washing of hands with soaps and water or alcoholic based gel is effective in the prevention of Coronal Virus. Some Nigerians have taken that to mean that regular drinking of 'Ogogoro' will help cure the virus. 

In a chat with Afeez Olaniran, a local bricklayer in Lagos, he said, he drinks Ogogoro every morning since the outbreak of the Corona virus. According to him he wants to keep alcohol in his stomach especially Goldberg as long as the Corona virus epidemic persists. When asked whether he uses alcohol to wash his hands regularly, he said yes. However, the truth is, there is no evidence that alcohol consumption prevents the spread of Corona virus.

A while ago, a group of Igbo traders gathered to pray as they usually do. They started by singing Christians songs, clapping and dancing widely at close range. I asked one of them how they intend to maintain social distancing as prescribed by the Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu when they pray together at such gathering. He said, ‘’Ebola came, it did not reach our side, Lassa Fever came, it did not reach our side, this Corona virus will not reach our side too, social distance or no social distance.’’ Trying to be spiritual like him, I said Amen. My attempts at proceeding with an enlightenment discussion was rebuffed since he continued singing, clapping and dancing in wild excitement. In my opinion, he didn’t read the part of the Bible that says prayer without work is death.

My neighbor said he came across an article that says Corona virus is airborne and can stay in the air for eight hours straight. This explains his decision to wear facemasks 24/7. I told him Corona virus is not airborne and can only stay in the air for a few seconds according to the Lagos state Government.  

Others say Corona virus cannot kill anyone in Nigeria because black people are resistant to ‘Coro virus’. I told one that Corona virus is blind to race or colour and does not look at the social status of a person. The prince of Wales, His Royal Highness, Prince Charles has tested positive, even our own Chief of Staff in Nigeria, Abba Kyari has tested positive to Corona virus. Corona virus has no respect for status or colour, black or white, rich or poor.

There is another supposed remedy on social media that says our traditional Agbo, or local herbs, is very effective in treating Corona virus, if anyone should test positive.  All you have to do is to get a well cooked, very hot Agbo and cover yourself in a bowl full of it. Once you sweat very well the Corona virus will vanish since it does not like heat and cannot stand the efficacy of that particular Agbo. The World Health Organisation, (WHO) has not confirmed any such cure for Corona virus.

 How can one effectively protect oneself against Corona virus? According to the World Health Organisation,(WHO) ‘‘The first step is to regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.  Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.  The second step is to maintain social distancing between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.’’

Another step is to avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth Why? ‘‘Hands, touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.  Practice respiratory hygiene Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.’’

This is because Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19. If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.