Losing your sense of smell and taste may be the best way to tell if you have COVID-19, according to a study of data collected via a symptom tracker app developed by British scientists to help monitor the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus. Almost 60% of patients who were subsequently confirmed as positive for COVID-19 had reported losing their sense of smell and taste, the data analysed by the researchers showed. That compared with 18% of those who tested negative. These results, which were posted online but not peer-reviewed, were much stronger in predicting a positive COVID-19 diagnosis than…

With all eyes on the rapid global spread of the novel coronavirus, health experts fear a drop in routine vaccinations could fuel other potentially deadlier outbreaks of diseases like measles. With nearly half of the world's population told to stay at home, many parents are having to postpone taking their children in for routine immunisations, while big vaccine drives have been halted, leaving many vulnerable to a range of infectuous diseases. "Measles is probably number one in my worry list at the current time," Seth Berkley, who heads the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, told reporters in an interview. He warned of…

Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency has reduced the pump price of petrol to N123.50 per litre from the current price of N125. This comes about a fortnight after the agency reduced the pump price to N125 from N145. The reduction is based on the reduced landing cost of petrol into Nigeria which is caused by the global decline of crude oil prices. Crude oil sold for about $20 a barrel on Monday compared to about $50 a barrel it sold for two months ago. Mr Abdulkadir Saidu, Executive Secretary of PPPRA, who announced the new pump price, said all…

Following the lockdown, federal capital territory, was literally a ghost city as Commercial activities were grounded and many roads deserted in compliance with the presidential order. Visible on major roads were hooded security operatives who manned strategic spots to ensure that only essential services providers were allowed to move. In Kugbo for instance, soldiers manning some checkpoints were seen conducting security checks on motorists before granting them access into the city. Aside the security search, motorists and their passengers were asked to identify themselves. Impatient motorists who could not stand the huge traffic as a result of the security checkpoint…