The new coronavirus is quickly destroyed by sunlight, according to new research announced by a senior US official last night, though the study has not yet been made public and awaits external evaluation.

William Bryan, science and technology advisor to the Department of Homeland Security secretary, told reporters at the White House that government scientists had found ultraviolet rays had a potent impact on the pathogen, offering hope that its spread may ease over the summer.

‘Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus, both surfaces and in the air,’ he said.

‘We’ve seen a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well, where increasing the temperature and humidity or both is generally less favorable to the virus.’

The radiation given off by ultraviolet light damages the virus’s genetic material and their ability to replicate.

But the paper itself has not yet been released for review, making it difficult for independent experts to comment on how robust its methodology was.

It has long been known that ultraviolet light has a sterilizing effect, because the radiation damages the virus’s genes.

A key question, however, will be what the intensity and wavelength of the UV light used in the experiment was and whether this accurately mimics natural light conditions in summer.

‘It would be good to know how the test was done, and how the results were measured,’ Benjamin Neuman, chair of biological sciences at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, told AFP.

‘Not that it would be done badly, just that there are several different ways to count viruses, depending on what aspect you are interested in studying.’

Bryan shared a slide summarizing major findings of the experiment that was carried out at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center in Maryland.

Mr Bryan confirmed scientists had found ultraviolet rays had a potent impact on the pathogen, offering hope that its spread may ease over the summer.

It showed that the virus’s half-life – the time taken for it to reduce to half its amount – was 18 hours when the temperature was 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius) with 20 percent humidity on a non-porous surface.

This includes things like door handles and stainless steel.

But the half-life dropped to six hours when humidity rose to 80 percent – and to just two minutes when sunlight was added to the equation.

When the virus was aerosolized – meaning suspended in the air – the half-life was one hour when the temperature was 70 to 75 degrees with 20 percent humidity.

In the presence of sunlight, this dropped to just one and a half minutes.

Bryan concluded that summer-like conditions ‘will create an environment (where) transmission can be decreased.’

He added, though, that reduced spread did not mean the pathogen would be eliminated entirely and social distancing guidelines cannot be fully lifted.

‘It would be irresponsible for us to say that we feel that the summer is just going to totally kill the virus and then if it’s a free-for-all and that people ignore those guides,’ he said.

Previous work has also agreed that the virus fares better in cold and dry weather than it does in hot and humid conditions, and the lower rate of spread in southern hemisphere countries where it is early fall and still warm bear this out.

Australia, for example, has had just under 7,000 confirmed cases and 77 deaths – well below many northern hemisphere nations.

The reasons are thought to include that respiratory droplets remain airborne for longer in colder weather, and that viruses degrade more quickly on hotter surfaces, because a protective layer of fat that envelops them dries out faster.

US health authorities believe that even if COVID-19 cases slow over summer, the rate of infection is likely to increase again in fall and winter, in line with other seasonal viruses like the flu.

Source: Daily Mail

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Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing Sunday has called out online beggars who have been sending their account numbers to her on Instagram.

According to the actress, her DM is filled with countless account numbers from numerous people, begging her for money and giveaways.

”Been on a 24 hours Insta break and it felt like forever… I was busy deleting Acct numbers in my DM😡😡 I beg of you STOP sending acct number to my DM it won’t make me give you Jack,cus I don’t remember oweing you money…It’s irritating already,

”I have deleted over 20k Acct number and still counting😡 I need to see adverts in my DM for Christ sake not acct number like I now work in a bank…I am not doing any giveaway pls Kindly move to the next giveaway page and allow mine breath..THANK YOU🙏🏻”, she wrote.

See her post below;

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Friends Mourn COVID-19 Victim Who Would Have Turned 60 Today But Died Yesterday

Friends have gone on Twitter to mourn a COVID-19 victim who died in Lagos a day before his 60th birthday.

The man, whose name was given as Jide Arije, aka Pio, died on Sunday, April 26, in Lagos. He would have turned 60 today, April 27.

Friends who mourned him online shared a photo and video of an ambulance at the location in LSDPC Estate, Glover Street, Ebute Metta.

"We just lost a friend to COVID-19 in Lagos. He was chatting a few hours ago. Now he is gone. He would have turned 60 years tomorrow. May his soul Rest In Peace," Consumer Rights Advocate, Sola Salako Ajulo wrote.

Below is a video of an ambulance at the scene;

We just lost a friend to COVID-19 in Lagos. He was chatting a few hours ago. Now he is gone. He would have turned 60years tomorrow. May his soul Rest In Peace. 😢😢😢 pic.twitter.com/aLs3JywTRV

— Sola Salako Ajulo (@purrples) April 26, 2020

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Jaywon and Save Fame dishes out this educative song “Stay Safe” which addresses the influence of Corona in the country.

Next World Record releases a brand new song titled “Stay Safe” delivered by Jaywon and Save Fame. The Jhay Onbeatable produced beat is a mid tempo tune that comes with good strings to get people attention.

“Stay Safe” is a track from NextWorld to educate everyone about the importance and advantage of staying home/indoor in-order to curb COVID-19. Corona is a serious diseases that needs a joint effort to eradicate the virus.

Jaywon and Save From says we all know hunger is also a serious case that needs attention. But Corona Virus is more deadly so stay healthy and safe (Safety First).

Listen!

DOWNLOAD MP3

The post Jaywon x Save Fame – “Stay Safe” appeared first on tooXclusive.

Relationship counselor, Blessing Okoro revealed why she stopped sleeping with men for money in an Instalive conversation with Denrele.

Recounting what happened during an outing which made her take the decision while still in the university, Blessing Okoro stated that men who pay for sex, talk to women in a demeaning way.

According to her, an older man who she and her friends hanged out with, asked her to give him a bl*w job at a hotel in a condescending manner. She further revealed that this made her cry and pull out of “runs”.

Watch the video below;

View this post on Instagram

. . According to the relationship counselor, she took the decision after an older man talked to her in a demeaning manner during an outing with her friends in her university days

A post shared by Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial) on Apr 27, 2020 at 12:44am PDT

Fans of German club, Borussia Monchengladbach,  ave paid for more than 8,000 cardboard cutouts of themselves to fill their stadium if the Bundesliga returns behind closed doors due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The German Football League (DFL) suspended Bundesliga football in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, that has infected close to 3 million people worldwide, but the Bundesliga says it now plans to restart on May 9 with players already returning to training.

Borussia Monchengladbach fans, have now thought of a unique way to fill up their stadium in case fans aren’t allowed to enter the stadium by starting a ‘Stay at home. Be in the stands’ campaign.

As part of the campaign, Gladbach fans are able to buy cardboard cutouts of themselves for £16.50 to fill Borussia-Park, the club’s home stadium, if the remaining 2019/20 matches are played behind closed doors and profits from the sales of cutouts will go towards charity.

Borussia Monchengladbach’s fans  representative Thomas Weinmann said: “The campaign organisers are regularly overrun with orders.

“We can hardly keep up trying to install them, but we’re obviously delighted with the overwhelming response it has received.”

The Nigerian woman put up for sale by a Lebanese on Facebook has been rescued, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has said.

In a tweet on Tuesday, the commission said the Nigerian is currently with the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon.

In the brief video made by the Nigerian Mission, the woman said the Lebanese was her employer and that he put up the post on Facebook after he could no longer pay her salary.

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This comes days after the Lebanese, Wael Jerro, was arrested for attempting to sell the woman for $1,000 on Facebook.

The rescued woman is a native of Oyo State.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday approved a $3.4 billion emergency funding requested by Nigeria, to help cushion the impact of COVID-19 on her economy.

The executive board of the fund gave the approval under the Rapid Financing Instrument to support the government’s efforts to address the devastating impact of COVID-19.

It is the single largest aid for any African country facing the pandemic. The Fund had earlier approved $1 billion for Ghana, Igbere TV reports.

On April 6, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said at the launching of the N500 billion fiscal stimulus measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that the IMF request was part of a number options the country was exploring raise funds to salvage its economy.

The minister said the other options to mobilise financial support to the country’s economic stimulus fund included a $2.5 billion credit facility from the World Bank, and another $1 billion from the African Development Bank.

At the meeting of its executive board on Tuesday to consider Nigeria’s request, the IMF noted that the COVID-19 outbreak has magnified existing economic vulnerabilities, leading to a historic contraction in the economic growth of most countries, and to large extent their external and fiscal financing needs.

“Once the impact of the COVID-19 shock passes, the authorities’ commitment to medium-term macroeconomic stability remains crucial to support the recovery and ensure debt remains sustainable,” the board said.

The board said the approval of 100 per cent of Nigeria’s contribution to the Fund as emergency financial assistance was based on the country’s Special Drawing Rights under the Rapid Financing Instrument.

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The International Monetary Fund IMF has approved the US$3.4 billion requested by the Federal government to help address the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp fall in oil prices.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the financial request today April 28.

The IMF in a statement released, said the financial support will ”help limit the decline in international reserves and provide financing to the budget for targeted and temporary spending increases aimed at containing and mitigating the economic impact of the pandemic and of the sharp fall in international oil prices.”

“The COVID-19 outbreak—magnified by the sharp fall in international oil prices and reduced global demand for oil products—is severely impacting economic activity in Nigeria. These shocks have created large external and financing needs for 2020. Additional declines in oil prices and more protracted containment measures would seriously affect the real and financial sectors and strain the country’s financing.

“The authorities’ immediate actions to respond to the crisis are welcome. The short-term focus on fiscal accommodation would allow for higher health spending and help alleviate the impact of the crisis on households and businesses. Steps taken toward a more unified and flexible exchange rate are also important and unification of the exchange rate should be expedited.

“Once the COVID-19 crisis passes, the focus should remain on medium-term macroeconomic stability, with revenue-based fiscal consolidation essential to keep Nigeria’s debt sustainable and create fiscal space for priority spending. Implementation of the reform priorities under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, particularly on power and governance, remains crucial to boost growth over the medium term.

“The emergency financing under the RFI will provide much needed liquidity support to respond to the urgent BOP needs. Additional assistance from development partners will be required to support the government’s efforts and close the large financing gap. The implementation of proper governance arrangements—including through the publication and independent audit of crisis-mitigating spending and procurement processes—is crucial to ensure emergency funds are used for their intended purposes.”

Categories: News

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Controversial singer, Naira Marley has recommended songs for his Muslim brothers and sisters to listen to during the holy month of Ramadan.

Since the Ramadan season began, the singer has refrained from using vulgar words and has even been dropping words of encouragement and prayers for those observing the fast. Naira Marley who recently called out ladies sending him nudes on Instagram has a message for Muslims observing the Ramadan fast.

Known for his raw and sexual content in songs, the “Soapy” singer took to his Instagram page to suggest a song that his Muslim fans can listen to. He revealed that his track “Aye” is a clean song and is worthy to be listened to during the fast. He wrote: “Have you heard Naira Marley AYe? @wuragold30 clean song… u can listen to it in Ramadan”

 

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Have you heard Naira Marley AYe? @wuragold30 clean song… u can listen to it in Ramadan

A post shared by Naira Marley (@nairamarley) on Apr 30, 2020 at 3:46am PDT

 

The post Naira Marley Recommends “Clean” Songs For Muslims During Ramadan appeared first on tooXclusive.

A young native doctor was filmed protesting after he was arrested for stepping out without wearing a face mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the video, the man is seen telling the members of the task force that he’s on his way to an important assignment. He was asked why he’s not wearing a face mask and he responded that he’s a native doctor and Coronavirus is not a threat to him.

He said he is not afraid of the virus and can treat patients if they are brought to him.

“This is my father’s land. This is my father’s land oh. Someone will be going on his way and you people will be subjecting him to abuse,” he protested as he was led to a canopy to sit.

“What you people are doing now has repercussions,” he warned the task force in Igbo.

“Look at my neck,” he said, pointing to the strings of beaded necklace he was wearing.

“The assignment I’m going on now is not something… What I’m going for is a very serious matter. I’m telling you the truth.”

“But why are you not wearing your face mask,” an officer asked.

And the native doctor responded: “I’m telling you that I’m a native doctor. I don’t have problem with diseases. I will treat that your Coronavirus. Bring me a patient.”

He continued after sitting: “You people are insulting your ancestors. You’re insulting the god of the Igbo land.”

He was offered hand sanitizer to apply on his hands but he rejected it, saying: “I don’t need that thing.”

He went on to speak about our ancestors and how they treated themselves with traditional knowledge.

He added: “If others are afraid of diseases, you will join them in being afraid of diseases.

“A White man will be scared of disease, you Africans, that are hardcore Igbolites and know that it is traditional, this is what we do, we are herbalists…”

Watch the video below;

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Nigerian rapper, Blaqbonez has hinted that he would be dropping a track dedicated to the late dancer, Kodak

Earlier today, news of Kodak’s death rocked the internet. Ther dancer was rumored to have died while charging her phone during a video shoot at Clarence Peter‘s house in Lagos. Nigerian artistes, Wizkid, Olamide, Simi, Slimcase, Blaqbonez, Dremo, and Yemi Alade took to their respective social media handles to mourn the energetic dancer.

However, Blaqbonez seems to be taking the news of her death very hard as it appears they have had a special relationship. The rapper took to his Twitter page to share a snippet of a song dedicated to Kodak. He wrote: “when shit gets real, you ask yourself if you’re doing enough while you’re here, and this rap shit really the only therapy i know. RIP Kodak”

when shit gets real, you ask yourself if you’re doing enough while you’re here, and this rap shit really the only therapy i know. RIP Kodak ? pic.twitter.com/Uxv0rDkNsc

— Nigerian Adele ???? ???? (@BlaqBonez) April 30, 2020

The post Blaqbonez Dedicates Special Song To Later Dancer, Kodak appeared first on tooXclusive.

Godday Robinson

A 28-year-old man, Godday Robinson has been arrested by men of the Ogun state police for alleged raping, stealing, and attempted murder of a 17-year-old girl.

The incident occurred on April 22 in Agbara. The suspect was arrested following a report that a young lady was lying unconscious in a ten feet deep pit in a nearby bush.

Upon the report by the good samaritan, the Agbara Area Commander detailed his men to the scene where the young lady was rescued and taken to the hospital.

Upon regaining consciousness, the victim explained that while she was coming from work, the suspect, who had been making advances at her, accosted her, capitalized on the isolated nature of the area and dragged her into the bush where he forcefully raped her.

The suspect was also said to have dispossessed the young lady of her phone valued at N85,000. Not done, he allegedly strangled her until she passed out momentarily.

Thinking that she was dead, he dragged her further into the bush and dumped her inside the pit, but after some time, she came back to life and started shouting for help.

On the strength of her explanation, the area Commander ACP, Bolanle Muritala, ordered the arrest of the suspect. On interrogation, he owned up to the commission of the crime but blamed it on the devil.

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Ganduje made the appeal while inaugurating a panel of experts led by the president of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria Musa Borodo, to support the state task force technical committee. According to him, the relaxation of the curfew is necessary because people are running out of food.

Ganduje said;  “We would engage the presidential task force on COVID-19 to seek permission to relax the total lockdown imposed on Kano. “We are making this appeal on behalf of our people who are presently running out of food items. We would love the federal government to relax the lockdown for a period of time to enable people stock their homes, especially now that majority of us are fasting. It will also ease the economic hardship in the state.”

Though the NCDC has activated a second Coronavirus test center in Kano state, the state currently has 219 confirmed cases of Coronavirus.

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Lyta releases another new impressive song dubbed “Birthday Wish”, which he used to ask for his desires from Almighty Allah.

In the spirit of his birthday, Lyta dishes out a new song titled “Birthday Wish“. Earlier today the talented singer welcomed us to the month of May with the surprise release of the song “Ramadan“. Still on the spiritual realm he dishes out another record, this new entry is to celebrate his birthday.

On this conscious/request song Lyta shares his heart desires with God and also his fans. His major wishes are; to make his Mama proud, hopes she could see again, to be Famous (talks of the world) and live a good life. At the end he seeks God’s blessings on his special day of birth.

Listen below and send in your birthday wishes

DOWNLOAD MP3

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYTA!…. May Almighty Allah Grant You your Wishes

The post Lyta – “Birthday Wish” appeared first on tooXclusive.

Kaduna State has recorded its first casualty to the coronavirus pandemic, the government said on Saturday.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Bolani, said the state also recorded three active cases of the virus.

The commissioner said the first fatality was among the additional three COVID-19 cases confirmed in the state.

According to her, the state now has 28 confirmed cases and awaits results of 350 samples, mostly almajiris, which it sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for tests.

“Testing of 167 almajiris who returned from Kano has now been completed, and the number of positive cases from this group may rise. Cases in the state rose to 28 on Thursday.

“The three patients that increased the number from 25 include two males and the first female COVID-19 case in the state,” the official said.

She added that the female patient was a health worker not involved in the treatment of COVID-19 cases.

“One of the two males was a retired civil servant with underlying medical conditions, who concealed his recent travel to Kano when he visited a public hospital and a private hospital.

“He was eventually admitted at the isolation centre with respiratory distress.

“He died before his positive test result was released. He is the first COVID-19 fatality in Kaduna State,” she said.

The official said that the family of the deceased had been informed of his demise, and he had been buried according to the NCDC’s burial protocol.

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MIC Terry is a talented singer and a songwriter from Yola, Adamawa State.  Earlier this year, he signed with Nings Nation Record Label and is set with his first single under Nings Nation. Produced by Soundz; Mixed & Mastered by TinoSax.

DOWNLOAD MP3

The post MIC Terry – “Loose” appeared first on tooXclusive.

The President of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli has raised alarm by questioning the quality of imported test kits being used in the country, and has ordered that they should be checked and probed after goat and pawpaw fruit reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 in the country.

John Magufuli made this known while speaking at an event recently held at Chato, in the Northwest of Tanzania.

In his speech, he revealed that the imported covid-19 testing kits have “technical errors”.

According to him, he had instructed that non-human samples be randomly obtained from a pawpaw fruit, a sheep and a goat which were labeled fake human names and bio-data without the knowledge of the lab technicians.

Surprisingly, the President said he was amazed that the tests for the pawpaw fruit and goat came out positive.

Speaking further at the event, he revealed he has since ordered the Tanzanian health agency to subject the quality of the kits to clinical lab tests to help ascertain their effectiveness and reliability.

According to LIB, the president was quoted to have said;

“We extracted a sample from a goat which turned positive. This tells you that something is not adding up.

Are we now supposed to quarantine goats and fruits?” the President questioned.

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Queen Chanel and Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi 

A former wife of the Oluwo of Iwo land, Queen Chanel Chin has revealed why she decided to expose the embattled monarch, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi and his many atrocities in the palace.

Recall that Queen Chanel had recently released a video where the Oluwo was spotted wrapping marijuana while in the palace.

Olori Chanel chin reveal that the King at different times threatened to kill her, claiming he has the Nigeria police at his beckon.

According to her, the Oluwo said that he’ll claim she (Chanel) caught fever and die. Claiming she made those video recording for her own safety, because she knew her waterloo will come before the king.

Watch Video:

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