Covid-19 test Archives - Naija Premium Gist

American comedian, Chris Rock tests positive for COVID-19

September 20, 2021 No Comments

Popular American comedian, Chris Rock has disclosed on the microblogging site, Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

The comedian and Hollywood actor revealed the severity of his case in a social media post. In his short Twitter message, the comedian admonished his five million followers to get vaccinated and rid themselves of any form of illness.

“Hey guys I just found out I have COVID, trust me you don’t want this. Get vaccinated,” he stated.

Chris Rock has now joined the list of international celebrities who have been affected by the virus.

Auch notable names include wrestler and actor, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Tom Hanks, Idris Elba, to name a few.

Politics

Nigerian govt threatens to sanction international passengers over COVID-19 test

September 20, 2021 No Comments

The Federal Government on Sunday declared its readiness to sanction international travellers who shunned the COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.

The Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, said any violation of the COVID-19 travel protocol would attract severe sanctions.

He added that the reviewed protocol would come into effect on September 14.

Mustapha stressed that passengers coming to the country must go through the routine port health screening and present electronic or print-out evidence of pre-boarding COVID-19 PCR test and the Permit to Travel Certificate/QR Code.

He said: “Thereafter, international passports must be presented for clearance through the Nigeria Immigration Service System’s Migrants Identification Data Analysis System (MIDAS) before a compulsory one-week self-isolation.

“Passengers who fail to show up for this test will face travel restrictions on their passports for at least six months and will not be able to travel abroad for this period. Non-Nigerian passport holders will have their visas revoked.

“Passengers are advised to avoid physical interaction with friends, family, colleagues, and other members of the public. Passengers should check their emails/text messages regularly for updates regarding the arrangement for their repeat COVID-19 PCR test from the laboratory of their choice.

“During this period, the passenger may be contacted by the COVID-19 Response team to ascertain [the] state of isolation, day-7 testing appointment, and health status.”

Politics

Incoming passengers to take covid-19 test three days before boarding

July 1, 2021 No Comments

The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has disclosed that incoming passengers must now perform a COVID-19, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), test three days before boarding.

The test detects the presence of a virus if a person is infected at the time of the test. The test could also detect fragments of virus even after they are no longer infected.

The PSC chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja

According to him, this is part of the new reviewed travel restrictions in the country.

Test validity commences from the time of sample collection. For passengers with multiple connections before arrival in Nigeria,” he said.

He said that the PCR test must be valid within 72 hours of boarding from the first point of departure.

According to him, passengers must bring along an electronic or hard copy of their COVID-19 PCR test for presentation at the departure airport and upon arrival in Nigeria.

The PSC chairman also said that foreigners without PCR test would be deported.

He insisted that all intending passengers (including diplomats and children less than 10 years old) must register via an online national travel portal.

”Foreign passport and non-resident in Nigeria, arriving in Nigeria without a valid PCR result (either no PCR result or a forged COVID-19 PCR result or a non-PCR COVID-19 test will be denied entry into the country and arrangements made for immediate deportation at cost to the carrier airline.

“Passengers who are Nigerians or holders of permanent resident permit will be allowed entry.

“Airlines shall be fined USD 3,500 per passenger for failure to comply with any of the pre- boarding requirements; airlines who consistently fail to comply with the above requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria,” he said

According to him, passengers, who visited Turkey, Brazil, India, South Africa within 14 days, they will be denied entry into Nigeria.

“Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents whose days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria,” the SGF stated.

Lifestyle

Covid: Barcelona hosts large gig after testing crowd

March 28, 2021 No Comments

Around 5,000 people spent Saturday night at a gig in Barcelona after receiving negative results in same-day Covid testing.

Spanish authorities let the concert, featuring band Love of Lesbian, go ahead as part of a pilot.

Fans took a test earlier in the day and did not have to keep physically apart but they still wore masks.

It is one of the largest gatherings in Europe in more than a year since the pandemic began.

“This is for one night only, so enjoy it,” one of the hosts said before the concert started at Saint Jordi Arena.

The gig was held as part of a research project looking at the viability of holding Covid-secure mass events following rapid-testing of guests.

It follows a similar experiment in the Netherlands last week, when fans attended a two-day music festival after showing proof of a negative Covid test.

image captionMusicians around the world have been unable to perform at large concerts for months

In Barcelona ticket-holders were only permitted to enter the stadium once a negative result code was sent to their phones. Temperatures and IDs were checked at the door.

Staff from a local hospital and event promoters teamed up to carry out rapid testing in booths within tents at three local venues.

“We expect it to be completely safe. Over the next 14 days we will look at how many of the audience test positive for Covid and will report back,” doctor Josep Maria Llibre told AFP news agency.

“I’m so very, very excited. It’s been 18 months since we’ve been on stage and one of us up here is in tears!” lead singer Santi Balmes shouted to fans from the stage.

“We really wanted to do something different, to take a step towards normality,” one guest told AFP. But Marina Crespo, 25, added that she still tried “not to get too close to people”.

The pandemic has devastated the live music industry along with many other cultural activities. The European music industry lost 76% of its income in 2020, according to a study by Spain’s Music Federation.