Berlin, Germany | AFP | German league football is ready to resume without spectators on May 9 but the final say rests with political leaders, the Bundesliga’s chief executive said Thursday. Following a meeting with Germany’s top clubs, Christian Seifert said the league was “ready” to return next month, which would …
Read More »WHO warns malaria deaths could double during virus pandemic
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The new coronavirus pandemic could severely disrupt access to anti-malaria nets and drugs in sub-Saharan Africa, the World Health Organization said Thursday, warning that malaria deaths risked doubling if efforts are not urgently scaled up. The UN health agency called on countries in sub-Saharan Africa — …
Read More »‘Serious side effects’ from Trump-backed virus drugs: EU agency
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The European Medicines Agency on Thursday added its voice to growing concern about an anti-malarial drug widely touted as a potential cure for the COVID-19 disease, warning about fatal side effects. Beneficial effects of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which count US President Donald Trump as a major backer, have “not …
Read More »World Bank warns pandemic could pressure food supply chain
Washington, United States | AFP | The coronavirus outbreak and government policies to limit the disease could disrupt food supply chains, potentially threatening food availability, even as prices remain stable in 2020, the World Bank cautioned Thursday. Prices of agricultural commodities are likely to hold up better than oil, metals and …
Read More »Oil roars back as stock markets worry about growth
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Oil prices made a spectacular comeback Thursday as fresh US-Iran tensions erupted while equities were slow to build on recent gains as data provided proof of a dire economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. At one point the US crude oil benchmark WTI was up …
Read More »China to give WHO $30 million more after US freezes funds
Beijing, China | AFP | China announced Thursday it will give another $30 million to the World Health Organization to help in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, days after Washington said it would freeze funding. The US, which is the WHO’s biggest contributor, accused the organisation last week of …
Read More »German-funded mobile virus testing labs land in East Africa
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | Uganda and Rwanda have taken delivery of two mobile diagnostic labs to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, the first in a network of German-funded units for East Africa, public investment bank KfW said Thursday. While the project to procure the labs and train staff has been underway since …
Read More »Planned indoor residual spraying cancelled despite malaria surge
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The planned Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) initially scheduled to take place in May in high malarial districts has been cancelled. The World Health Organisation recommends IRS as a prevention mechanism should be done every after two years for efficacy. The intervention was last done …
Read More »IGP rallies muslims to observe COVID-19 guidelines during Ramadhan
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martin Okoth Ochola has called on all Muslims to continue strictly observing the 35 guidelines issued by the government on limiting the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) even during the month of Ramadhan. Muslims across the world will …
Read More »Kalangala community rejects recovered COVID-19 patient
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kalangala district leaders say some community members have refused to receive a discharged patient, Charles Lwanga Banya who recently recovered from coronavirus disease-COVID-19. Banya, a civil engineer who owns a palm oil farm in Kalangala was admitted at Entebbe Hospital after testing positive to …
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