Category: Coronavirus

In a stunning revelation, a Chinese virologist has claimed that the coronavirus was created in a government-controlled laboratory in Wuhan, the original epicentre of the outbreak and offered scientific evidence to back her claims.

In an exclusive conversation with ‘Loose Women’, a British talk show, Dr Li-Meng Yan, the scientist said she was assigned to investigate “new pneumonia” in Wuhan. She said that she discovered a cover-up operation regarding coronavirus during her investigation.

Dr Li-Meng, who specialised in virology and immunology at the Hong Kong School of Public Health, said she conducted two researches on new pneumonia in China first between December and early January and the second one in mid-January, before fleeing to the US from Hong Kong.

“I decided to report this development to my supervisor, who is also a World Health Organisation (WHO) consultant. There was no response from the WHO and my supervisor. Everyone warned me that do not cross the right line and keep silence or else I would be made to disappear,” she said.

The virologist said she had expected her supervisor to “do the right thing on behalf of the Chinese government and WHO”.

Several countries, including the US, have criticised both China and WHO for covering-up the severity of the coronavirus outbreak.

Dr Li-Meng revealed she had contacted a famous Chinese YouTuber in the US. The expose, which was in Chinese, said that the Chinese Communist Party was covering up the COVID-19 crisis and there was a human-to-human transmission of the virus.

She also said that coronavirus is a “high-mutant virus” which will become an outbreak soon and the seafood market in Wuhan and the virus’s intermediate hosts were just a “smokescreen”.
The doctor then made the stunning revelation that the “virus is not from nature” and it was from a “laboratory controlled by the Chinese government in Wuhan“.

“This is based on the China Military Institute that discovered and owned some bad coronavirus named CC45 and ZXC41. Based on that, after lab modification becomes a novel virus,” she said.

Asked if she had scientific proof about the revelation, Dr Li-Meng said she has intelligence from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local doctors and other people across China. “These are the truths and all other things were covered up,” she added.

The virologist said she is working on a scientific report with a small group of top scientists across the world and will be published soon.

“There are two reports. The first one will come in several days and it will tell the people all the evidence,” she said, adding that the coronavirus is a highly contagious and a dangerous virus.

Asked whether she was worried about her safety after fleeing Hong Kong, the doctor remarked she wanted to deliver the message as soon as possible to the world.

“It was very scary at that time. But I had to do it because I am a doctor and I cannot see it happen. If I do not tell the truth to the world, I will be regretful. So, this foundation which is based in New York helped me to secretly leave Hong Kong. They help people who are against the Chinese government,” she added.

Giving an insight into her unpublished scientific report, Dr Li-Meng said anyone, even those who do not have knowledge of biology, can read it.

“The genome sequence is like our human fingerprint. So, based on this you can recognise and identify this thing. So, I used the evidence existing in the genome sequence of Sars-CoV-2 to tell people why this came from China and why they are the only ones who made it,” she stated.

She further said, “You can check, identify and verify it by yourself. It is a critical thing for us to know the origins of the virus. If not, it will be life-threatening for everyone.” (ANI)

The Cabinet has approved a Comprehensive Insurance Cover for all health workers in the frontline against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting which was chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta lauded Kenya’s healthcare workers for their commitment to duty during the pandemic that has slowed down the economy since March.

Medical workers have been up in arms, accusing the government of neglecting them, with their union representatives saying there is no adequate protective kits in hospitals.

So far, more than 1,000 medics have contracted the virus across the country.

A statement from State House said the Cabinet also ratified the Memorandum of Understanding for the Provision of Health Personnel between the Republic of Seychelles and the Republic of Kenya.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the Republic of Seychelles will facilitate the Kenyan Health Personnel serving in that nation.

The Ministry of Health is to draw up new burial protocols after observing that bodies of people who have died from Covid-19 do not transmit the virus. The revision of guidelines is expected to enable family members to bury their kin in a dignified manner.

According to its daily Ministry of Health Covid-19 Situation Report of September 4, 2020, the main mode of transmission of Covid-19 is via droplets, hence, the family members need to observe basic infection prevention and control and be allowed to participate in a dignified burial for their departed. “On infection prevention and control protocols on the handling of Covid-19 bodies and burials, it was noted that the main mode of transmission for Covid-19 is through droplets.” read the report in part.

The ministry admits that the current burial practices under Covid-19 containment measures have been inappropriate and caused psychological trauma to families.

Kenyans have been witnessing bizarre and traumatic burials following the deaths of persons suspected or confirmed to have Covid-19. In April, a KPA employee, 59-year-old James Oyugi was hurriedly buried in the dead of the night when his body was unceremoniously thrown into the shallow grave sparking outcry across the country. “Covid- 19 burial SoPs have been revised to address rational use of PPEs and body handling,”  the report added.

So far, Kenya has recorded 597 deaths out of the over 35,000 cases detected in the country.

The Ministry has also observed a drop in the number of inpatient and ICU admissions in various hospitals. As at the time of the report on September 4, KU Teaching and Referral Hospital had 24 confirmed patients, and 20 suspected to have the virus.

These numbers, compared to the previous month of August which had 100 was a drastic drop in cases. Tigoni Covid Hospital which had 70 patients the previous month only had six patients admitted. The Ministry attributes this drop in numbers to Home-Based Care where those that have no or mild symptoms of Covid-19 are being managed at home.

The other reasons are a reduction in the number of people being tested due to a shortage of testing kits in addition to a change in the testing strategy where only people who are symptomatic, in hospital, prisons and healthcare workers are being tested. In the report, the Ministry admits that it is also unable to track all contacts of cases “and due to Home Based Care, not all cases are captured since many patients now opt to stay at home and may not be a captured (missed cases).”

Kenya’s Covid-19 infection positivity rate in the last week has been at five per cent, right at the recommended WHO mark that should indicate that a country is succeeding in the containment of the disease. On average, the positivity rate has been at 7.6 per cent.-Standard.

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 26.35 million people, with just four countries accounting for over 15 million cases. They are America, Brazil, India, and Russia — the same four that have been at the top for months. The US surprised the world when it rose to the top spot in multiple COVID-19 statistics, both for the total number of confirmed cases and the number of deaths. Since then, no other country has surpassed America.

But scientists who are studying the pandemic have also identified another surprise of the pandemic. Some expected the African continent to be affected most heavily by the virus, but that wasn’t the case. South Africa stands out when it comes to the number of total cases, with nearly 631,000 infections. But fewer than 15,000 people have died of COVID-19. These figures are puzzling scientists looking to understand how the virus behaves and how it can be beaten.

The hypothesis that poverty should have a significant impact on the spread of the virus doesn’t stand when it comes to the entire African continent. Developing countries like Brazil and India showed that the virus couldn’t be contained once it reached densely populated, but poor, neighborhoods.

Experts expected the same thing to happen in Africa, but it didn’t. If anything, Africa is doing better than any other continent, both when it comes to cases and casualties. As BBC News explains, even if those numbers are significantly underreported, Africa still has it much better than other continents right now.

“I thought we were heading towards a disaster, a complete meltdown,” Professor Shabir Madhi told BBC News. The nation’s top virologist echoed what others must have thought about the African coronavirus outbreak. But South Africa’s death rate is almost seven times lower than in the UK.

Salim Abdool Karim, the head of the country’s COVID-19 response team, told BBC that “most African countries don’t have a peak,” which is surprising. “I don’t understand why. I’m completely at sea,” he added.

He explained that factors like population density would be a critical factor that would favor the rapid spread of the illness inside the African continent. Crowding in poverty-stricken areas makes social distancing all but impossible, and that increases the risk of COVID-19 spreading.

One hypothesis that can explain the disparity between Africa and other continents concerns the overall age of the population. In general, the population of Africa is younger than in regions hardest-hit by COVID-19.

Another hypothesis will sound familiar to those who have been following coronavirus developments closely. Some researchers have shown that other human coronaviruses that cause common colds can elicit an immune response that could provide protection against COVID-19. South African researchers went to work on that idea, attempting to analyze five-year-old blood samples that were conserved from a flu vaccine trial in Soweto. The plan was to look for any evidence that would explain why the African continent is faring much better against the illness than others. Those samples were compromised by technical issues that put a stop to the research.

But the idea stands. The same crowded neighborhoods that would lead to the quick spread of other coronaviruses may have protected the population from SARS-CoV-2.

“It’s a hypothesis. Some level of pre-existing cross-protective immunity… might explain why the epidemic didn’t unfold [the way it did in other parts of the world],” Mahdi said. “The protection might be much more intense in highly populated areas, in African settings. It might explain why the majority [on the continent] have asymptomatic or mild infections.”

“I can’t think of anything else that would explain the numbers of completely asymptomatic people we’re seeing. The numbers are completely unbelievable,” he said.

But if that hypothesis is true, why have Brazil and India seen massive COVID-19 surges in the past few months? Karim warned that even considering the evolution of the pandemic on the continent so far, Africa isn’t out of the woods. “I’m not sure whether one day the epidemic is going to spread like crazy here,” he said.

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Skip kissing and consider wearing a mask when having sex to protect yourself from catching the coronavirus, Canada’s chief medical officer said on Wednesday, adding that going solo remains the lowest risk sexual option in a pandemic.

Dr Theresa Tam said in a statement there is little chance of catching COVID-19 from semen or vaginal fluid, but sexual activity with new partners does increase the risk of contracting the virus, particularly if there is close contact like kissing.

“Like other activities during COVID-19 that involve physical closeness, there are some things you can do to minimize the risk of getting infected and spreading the virus,” she said.

Skip kissing, avoid face-to-face closeness, wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose, and monitor yourself and your partner for symptoms ahead of any sexual activity, Tam said.

“The lowest risk sexual activity during COVID-19 involves yourself alone,” she added.

Sexual health is an important part of overall health, Tam said, and by taking precautions, “Canadians can find ways to enjoy physical intimacy while safeguarding the progress we have all made containing COVID-19.”

Canada has reported 129,425 cases of COVID-19 and 9,132 deaths, as of Sept 1. New daily cases are far below peak volumes, but there has been a recent uptick, driven by more infections in certain western Canadian provinces.

Appearing before the senate committee probing the COVID-19 scandal, Transport Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Chris Obure pointed an accusing finger at Ethiopia over 21 packages of donations from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma that went missing.

Ethiopia was used as the transit route for East Africa countries given its the CDC HQ in Africa. Kenya received its first batch of the donations from the Chinese philanthropist on 24th March.

Health CS Kagwe then confirmed to journalists that the country had received 25,000 testing kits from Jack. The package from the billionaire’s foundation also included protective gear, mask and medical equipment.

Five months later, the donation by Jack Ma to Kenya is alleged to have been stolen, with a part of the consignment, which was received by KEMSA, said to have been sold to Tanzania and dubious medical supply companies.

Despite Kagwe saying that Kenya received 25,000 testing kits on March 24, which was above what other 53 African nations received each – 20,000 – Transport CAS, Obure, now says Ethiopia shortchanged Kenya while distributing the Jack Ma consignment.

While being grilled by the National Assembly Committee on Health on Thursday, Obure said that 21 packages out of the 697 packages of Jack Ma’s assorted medical supplies weighing 2,000 kilograms, were not delivered to Kenya by Ethiopia.

According to the CAS, Kenya received 671 packages only, which was cleared by the government clearing agent and received by Ministry of Health representative Alice Soita.

The CAS stated that the 671 packages of Jack Ma donation were transported to KEMSA headquarters in three trucks after being cleared at the JKIA.

Obure said some of the protective and medical equipment Kenya received from Jack Ma include: “laboratory kits, screening equipment, gloves, detection kits and other [medical] materials”, collectively weighing over 10,500 kilograms.

A priest wearing a coronavirus mask collapsed and died while giving a sermon at his church in Cameroon on Sunday.

Catholic priest Reverend Father Jude can be seen speaking to his congregation from the pulpit in French before he falls to the ground in Cameroon’s western city of Douala during Sunday Mass on 30 August.

At first, all seems well as Father Jude conveys his spiritual lesson to the parishioners.

He then pauses and looks around the church, before clenching his fist, and he briefly appears to regain his composure.

Father Jude’s eyes then become droopy and he sways on the spot before slumping backwards, to the left of the pulpit. He can be heard breathing heavily into the microphone before he drops.

At the end of the video, fellow clergymen wearing face masks can be seen rushing to the priest’s aid as women in the church scream.

It is not yet known whether the priest had any prior medical conditions.

The footage was shared on Twitter by lawyer Chidi Odinkalu, who is also the former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission.

‘Rev. Fr Jude., CMA, Spiritual Director of CMA Deido, in Cameroon’s commercial capital, Douala, was preaching the Homily at Mass earlier today when this happened. RIP,’ he wrote.

Social media users were shocked by the priest’s sudden death.

One wrote: ‘Oh my God! Right at the pulpit while preaching a sermon!?’

‘May his soul rest in peace and may the Lord he served grant him eternal rest in his kingdom.’

‘Life isn’t just short it’s unbelievable,’ said another.

‘That man must have left his house with the hopes of returning to a wife and children.

‘The life is short, just live it right when you can.’-Daily Mail.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has resurfaced after a lengthy period out of the public’s eyes as he’s been doing. Kuria has disclosed that he’s been undergoing COVID-19 treatment in Karen Hospital for the last 27 days.

Kuria who before his admission to the hospital was making appearances in functions with other politicians.

Posting on his Facebook on Wednesday, Kuria urged Kenyans to practice caution warning that the virus is real.

”I really hope that beyond all the debate around Covid-19, all and sundry will not forget that Corona Virus is real. The worst thing we can do is to lower our guard! And above all let us remember our gallant front line workers- Not just doctors and nurses like but subordinate staff who put their lives in the line of danger to give care to Corona Virus patients. If you are in a hospital bed- Like myself for the last 27 days here at Karen Hospital you witness first hand the amount of sacrifice they make amid vert difficult circumstances. You learn to focus more on the virus and our front line workers, and less on side shows. We shall overcome COVID-19” Reads Kuria’s post on Facebook.

The saga that is Kemsa scandal continues to have it swirl around. While the authority struggle to answer on flawed procurement and exaggerated prices for the COVID-19 supplies, the depth of the mess keeps getting deeper.

According to the new development, Kits procured by the health ministry were not validated by the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board (KMLTTB), which is licensed to verify all kits bought using World Bank funds.

This has further casted doubt on the accuracy of the results from the kits with possibilities of false negatives and positives which puts the public in grave danger.

In a letter addressed to the Kemsa CEO Jonah Manjari, Health PS Susan Mochache directed the acquisition of 3,750 kits at Sh97,584 each.

Mochache and Mutahi have been accused by the Kemsa management of micromanaging the procurement process and asserting pressure for tender awards to specific firms.

Ministry skipped a crucial step of validating the kits which needed field trials to determine the accuracy of the kits.

It is, however, curious that the PS ordered the procurement of rapid testing kits that cannot be used in other diagnostic platforms besides the Abbott machines, which are unavailable in most of the Covid-19 labs.

The Ministry of Health has announced 114 new cases in the last 24 hours raising the countries COVID-19 figures to 34,315.

The new cases come from a sample size of 1,682 that health officials took for testing.

From the cases, 113 are Kenyans while one is a foreigner. In terms of gender 93 are male while 21 are female.

The youngest to contract the disease is a one-year-old while the oldest is 85.

318 patients have recovered from the disease, 263 from the Home- Based Care Programme and 55 have been discharged from various hospitals bringing the total recoveries now stand at 20,211.

The number of fatalities remains at 577 as no new COVID-19 death has been reported in the last 24 hours.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives have recovered fake COVID-19 certificates following the arrest of 33 years old Edward Okuku Alando and 32 years old Yahya Ismael Sian in Busia County.

Additional items that include a computer and a scanner believed to have been used in running the fake COVID-19 testing center were also recovered and have been retained as exhibits.

Elsewhere, Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache is on the spot over a suspect letter she wrote directing embattled Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to procure COVID-19 supplies from specific firms.

Mochache, whose demotion by President Uhuru Kenyatta was retracted moments after her reshuffle on Wednesday, could now become a person of interest in the Covid-19 funds probe.

The board told the National Assembly Health Committee how Mochache wrote to the agency trying to direct how to procure the COVID-19 emergency supplies.

In her letter dated April 15, Mochache specified to KEMSA the items they were to procure, listed specific suppliers they were to source them from, as well as the prices.

The doctors’ strike in Nairobi County entered its fifth day as negotiations between the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and the doctors continue.

NMS Health Chief Officer Dr. Ouma Oluga refuted reports that patients are being turned away and are not receiving medical attention as a result of the ongoing strike.

“I think it’s important that we paint a clear picture for Nairobians so that women do not suffer when they want to deliver. All health facilities are receiving people and there’s not a single person that will go to hospital and fail to receive the care that they need even as we negotiate with our doctors to ensure that all issues are sloved.” Said Oluga.

Dr. oluga insisted that service delivery in public hospitals is still ongoing and Nairobi residents should not be worried about lack of healthcare services.

“I can attest that personally I know the problems of health Care workers. Those issues are being solved and they existed before including nurses who have not been paid for two years. NMS did not exist in two years, it came to solve the problem.” He added.

He made the remarks at the Pumwani hospital where the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) donated items worth ksh.4.5 million including personal protective kits for health care workers, mama kits for the expectant mothers and midwifery birth models for training.

Doctors in most public hospitals in Nairobi went on strike on August 21 to protest against delayed salaries and a lack of protective equipment when handling patients who may have COVID-19.

Close to 320 doctors employed by the Nairobi County government are currently taking part in the strike because they had inadequate health insurance, poor quality protective gear and too few isolation wards to treat COVID-19 patients.

Kenya has confirmed 193 new coronavirus cases out of 3,381 samples that were tested in the past 24 hours, raising the total infections in the country to 32,557.

All the cases were Kenyans except for three who were foreigners.

The youngest case to be infected was a two-month old infant with the oldest being 87 years old.

Infection rate among men remained high where out of the total cases, 56 were female against male at 137.

255 COVID-19 recovered from the virus, more figures than the positive cases in a single day since cases in the country started to skyrocket two months back.

Home-based care has proved to be effective as Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman confirmed that 188 of the recoveries were from home while 37 were from various health facilities.

Nairobi still leads in the number of infection having recorded 87 of the total cases, followed by Kiambu at 54.

The country’s death toll rose to 554 after six more patients succumbed to the virus.

The government will not re-open schools in September as speculated by a section of Kenyans on social media.

Education CS Prof. George Magoha while inspecting Kitale National polytechnic Monday said that his Ministry is still waiting for further advice from the Ministry of Health on the behavior of the coronavirus to make concrete decisions on re-opening.

However, he said that TVET institutions might open their doors to examination classes in September and the on-going inspection in the middle learning colleges is check their preparedness.

He allayed fears that teachers not registering for community learning will be punished through denial of salaries adding that the exercise is voluntarily.

Prof. Magoha said that teachers with clinical problems will not be allowed to participate in community learning programme.

“Community learning was meant to cater for pupils and students not attending online classes,” he said.
According to Prof. Mogoha, community learning will not take place in schools, but in the community where pupils and teachers stay in the same locality.

“We were particularly concerned about pupils and students living in slums that cannot access even a radio in their home,” he said.

Prof. Mogoha said that community teaching will not syllabus based and rubbished those against the exercise as malicious people with little interest for the Kenyan child.

He said that the government is still studying the trend of coronavirus, adding that it will not rush to endanger the lives of the Kenyan child through re-opening of schools.

He blamed World Health organization for double standards saying that on one hand the organization is asking countries to follow protocols and on the other hand it is asking African counties to open schools.

On inspection of TVET institutions, he said that the exercise is at 50% and asked managers of the institution to put in place measurable improvements recommended to them.

He said that all teacher training institutions will from May next year teach teachers purely on curriculum-based competency.

STATEMENT BY H.E. RAILA ODINGA,EGH:

ODM STAND ON ALLEGED THEFT OF CORONAVIRUS FUNDS:

The Orange Democratic Movement’s record of commitment to fighting corruption and safeguarding public resources is well documented. ODM never did and never will tolerate corruption in all its manifestations, no matter who is involved.

The position of the party in the current allegations of corruption in COVID-19 related resources is that the government needs to conduct a thorough and urgent audit of all the funds that have been put at the disposal of various state agencies, departments and ministries to fight the pandemic with a view to establishing the facts on usage of such resources.

ODM has always advocated this systematic approach to fighting corruption. In the Grand Coalition Government, the party successfully pushed for the systematic audit of the sale of Grand Regency Hotel and attendant consequences. ODM pushed for the systematic audit of Anglo Leasing Scandal by Kroll and Associates, leading to appropriate legal action on culprits.  When the Maize Scandal erupted, ODM pushed for the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers to audit the matter, leading to appropriate action against culprits. A special audit also led to convictions in the Ksh283 million Nairobi cemetery scam.


This approach has worked well in the recent past. In the case of Arror and Kimwarer dams, the truth was established when the Auditor-General conducted a special audit of the Sh60 billion dams whose procurement and financing had caused public outrage.


Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors around the world were allowed to work with local investigators to assist with financial analysis, tracing funds and investigating money laundering. It led to a solid case that resulted in arrests and suspensions. The truth through special audit came after a spirited effort by politicians to mislead the country at many press conferences and public rallies that no money had been lost.


A similar approach worked with regard to the National Youth Service scam where in 2016, the office of the Auditor General was able to establish that Kenyan taxpayers lost Ksh1.9 billion in the scandal and proceeded to identify the principal beneficiaries of the theft. On the basis of that audit, suspects were arraigned in court.



As matters stand now, none of the people taking to the podium or social media to condemn theft of funds has any evidence. The so-called condemnations of theft could well be part of a cover-up.

Our experience in this country is that the best way to bungle and cover up corruption investigations is to have many different voices each with its own version of truth. We saw that noise with regard to Arror and Kimwarer dams and the NYS scams, among others.

It is with this background in mind that  ODM wants a speedy professional audit that can lead to prosecution instead of a political shouting match that creates more confusion and end up clouding the issues and even covering up for the thieves.

ODM will not defend anyone, including members or relatives and friends of its officials, found to have benefitted from funds and other resources meant for fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

H.E. RAILA ODINGA; EGH

PARTY LEADER

THE ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday announced emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma — a move he called “a breakthrough,” one of his top health officials called “promising” and other health experts said needs more study before it’s celebrated.

The announcement came after White House officials complained there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump’s reelection chances.

On the eve of the Republican National Convention, Trump put himself at the center of the FDA’s announcement of the authorization at a news conference Sunday evening. The authorization makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment but is not the same as full FDA approval.

The blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies, may provide benefits to those battling the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it and what dose is needed.

In a letter describing the emergency authorization, the chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, said: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”

But Trump had made clear to aides that he was eager to showcase good news in the battle against the virus, and the timing allowed him to head into his convention with momentum. He and aides billed it as a “major” development and used the White House briefing room to make the announcement.

Trump also displayed some rare discipline in the evening news conference, sticking to his talking points, deferring to the head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, and only taking three questions from reporters.

The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval. The accusations of an FDA slowdown, which were presented without evidence, were just the latest assault from Trump’s team on what he refers to as the “deep state” bureaucracy. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics, but said that “we’ve looked at a number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.”

“This president is about cutting red tape,” Meadows said in an interview Sunday on “This Week” on ABC. “He had to make sure that they felt the heat. If they don’t see the light, they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.”

During Sunday’s 18-minute press conference, Trump said he thought there had been a “logjam” at the FDA over granting the emergency authorization. He alleged there are people at the FDA “that can see things being held up … and that’s for political reasons.”

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein said the statement, and Hahn’s silence while Trump said it, “was disgraceful.”

“The FDA commissioner basically allowed the president to mischaracterize the decision and attack the integrity of FDA employees. I was horrified,” said Sharfstein, a vice dean at John Hopkins University’s school of public health who was a top FDA official during the Obama administration.

“This is a promising therapy that has not been fully established,” he said

The push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on the process to treat the virus, which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances. The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine, and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “October surprise” that could help the president make up ground in the polls.

“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” Trump tweeted. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”

Earlier this month, Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover. But it wasn’t considered proof.

More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma, a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines. It’s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along, and history suggests it works against some, but not all, infections.

The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma, and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis, and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies.

But it wasn’t a formal study. The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed to speed access to the experimental therapy. That “expanded access” program tracks what happens to the recipients, but it cannot prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement.

Administration officials, in a call with reporters Sunday, discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator, and were given ‘high-titer’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies. They were then compared to similar patients who were given lower-titer plasma. The findings suggest deaths were 35% lower in the high-titer group.

There’s been little data on how effective it is or whether it must be administered fairly early in an illness to make a significant difference, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

Aiming to ward off a possible a run on convalescent plasma after the announcement, government officials have been working to obtain plasma and to team with corporate partners and nonprofit organizations to generate interest among previously infected patients to donate.

Hahn, who called the development “promising,” said Trump did not speak to him about the timing of the announcement. He said “this has been in the works for several weeks.”

But some health experts were skeptical. Benjamin Corb, of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, called it “conspicuous timing.”

“President Trump is once again putting his political goals ahead of the health and well-being of the American public,” Corb said.

Rigorous studies are under way around the country, comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care. But those studies have been difficult to finish as the virus waxes and wanes in different cities. Also, some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead.

Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb dismissed the suggestion of a slowdown.

The country continues to register an increase in cases of COVID 19 since restrictions were lifted on 6th July 2020, with an upsurge in cumulative caseload and mortality.

Nairobi County alone accounts for  59 percent of cases  while the top ten counties account for 93 percent of all cases.

Giving the daily update of the COVID 19 cases in the Country, Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr. Mercy Mwangangi said  as of yesterday, all the 47 counties had reported cases, with Nairobi bearing the most burden at 18,488, followed by Kiambu with 2,335, then Mombasa comes in third with 2,260 and Kajiado is fourth with 1,727.

Others are Machakos 1,125,  Busia 945, Nakuru 713, Uasin Gishu 432 , Migori 385, Nyeri 232, Kericho 216, Garissa 203, Kisumu 200, Laikipia 197, Narok 188, Murang’a 145, Kilifi 144, Makueni 131, Kitui 103, Bomet 99, Kisii 95, Turkana 78, Meru 69, Kwale 67, Siaya 65, Lamu 64, Taita Taveta 63, Nandi 58, Kakamega 55, Kirinyaga 52, Trans Nzoia 51, Isiolo 42, Bungoma 39, Nyandarua 39, Samburu 38, Wajir 38, Tharaka-Nithi 37, Embu 36, Homa Bay 36, Baringo 35, Mandera 28, Vihiga 26, Marsabit 17, Nyamira 17, Tana River 16, Elgeyo Marakwet 6 and West Pokot 6.

“Nairobi and Mombasa Counties, continue to record the highest attack rates of COVID-19,  at 420.5 and 187 per 100,000 population respectively, when compared to the national average of 66.1”, she said

Dr. Mwangangi explained that 30,854, which is equivalent to 98 percent of the 31,441 confirmed cases, are local transmissions and from the confirmed cases, 20,236 are males while 11,205 are females.

“ Most of the cases, that is 10,283, which is about 33 percent, are in the age group of 30-39 years and this should therefore be  a wake-up call to all our youth, that this disease is real, and is claiming lives”, the CAS said .

The case fatality rate now stands at 1.6 percent, Dr. Mwangangi said noting that  there are   516 confirmed deaths and  out of this, 386 which is about 75 percent, are males and 130, which is about 25 percent, are females.

The average positivity rate stands at 7.9 percent, from a total of 396,176 tests, that have so far been conducted since the pandemic struck the Country in March while the laboratory test rate currently stands at 8,329 samples per 1,000,000 people.

“Out of the 31,441 confirmed cases, 2,074, which is about 7 percent, were symptomatic, 51    percent of these showed symptoms of cough, and 37 percent had symptoms of fever, while 27 percent had difficulty in breathing.  It is further interesting to note, that a total of 29,367 which is about 93 per cent were asymptomatic cases”, Dr. Mwangangi said.

She explained that 17,869 patients have been discharged from various hospitals, as well as from Home-Based Care program.

On the other hand, the CAS said that 885 frontline health workers have been infected, with 16 deaths being reported across 35 counties,   31 patients are currently in the Intensive Care Units across various health facilities in the country.

Whilst the country has recorded some significant gains in efforts to fight the pandemic, Dr.  Mwangangi said that stigmatization of patients remains a matter of great concern and appealed  to people not to stigmatize those who have recovered as anyone can get the disease

On today’s statistics, the CAS said that out of 4,470 samples tested in the last 24 hours, 322 people have tested positive bringing to 31,763 the number of confirmed positive cases, pushing our cumulative tests to 412,080.

From the cases today all are Kenyans except nine (9) who are foreigners, with 179 males and 143 females.  The youngest case is a three year old-baby while the oldest is 92 years.

The distribution of the cases by Counties is as follows; Nairobi 106 Kajiado 53, Machakos 25,  Nakuru 25, Kiambu 23, Kisii 23, Busia 13, Mombasa 11, Kisumu 5, Bomet 5, Garissa 4, Homabay 4, Nandi 4, Uasin Gishu 3, Kitui 3, Nyandarua 3, Taita Taveta 3, Turkana 3, Nyamira 2, Kericho 1, Murang’a 1, Vihiga 1 and Makueni 1.

288 patients have today recovered from the disease, with 190 being from the Home-Based Care program, while 98 have been discharged from various hospitals.  this brings the total number of recoveries now stands at 18,157.

Unfortunately, 16 patients have succumbed to the disease, bringing the  fatality  rate to 532..

By Mirror

Researchers at the University of Bristol have found that higher volume was associated with an increase in aerosol mass, with the loudest level generating up to 30 times more aerosol mass than the lowest volume

However, they said there were no significant differences in aerosol production between genders or among different genres of music such as choral, musical theatre, opera, jazz, gospel rock or pop.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “I know singing is an important passion and pastime for many people who I’m sure will join me in welcoming the findings of this important study.”We have worked closely with medical experts throughout this crisis to develop our understanding of Covid-19, and we have now updated our guidance in light of these findings so people can get back to performing together safely.”

As part of an ongoing research project, called Perform, the researchers looked at the amounts of aerosols and droplets generated by a large group of 25 professional performers that were up to 20 micrometres (0.02m) in diameter.The singers performed a range of exercises including breathing, speaking, coughing, and singing at a hospital operating theatre with a “zero aerosol” background.

Dr Florence Gregson, a researcher at the University of Bristol and first author on study, said using this hospital setting setting meant “any aerosol we detected with our measurements, we could directly attribute only to what the singer had produced”.Our research has provided a rigorous scientific basis for Covid-19 recommendations for arts venues to operate safely for both the performers and audience by ensuring that spaces are appropriately ventilated to reduce the risk of airborne transmissionThe experiments included singing and speaking Happy Birthday at different sound levels, between the ranges of 50-60 decibels (dB), 70-80 dB and 90-100 dB.At the loudest level, singing generated more aerosol particles than speaking but the researchers said that this difference was “very modest”.Based on their findings, the researchers said ensuring adequate ventilation in the venue may be more important than restricting a specific activity.

Jonathan Reid, an expert in aerosol science at the University of Bristol and a corresponding author on the paper, said: “The study has shown the transmission of viruses in small aerosol particles generated when someone sings or speaks are equally possible with both activities generating similar numbers of particles.”Our research has provided a rigorous scientific basis for Covid-19 recommendations for arts venues to operate safely for both the performers and audience by ensuring that spaces are appropriately ventilated to reduce the risk of airborne transmission.”Dr Julian Tang, honorary associate professor in respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, who was not involved in the study, said: “The risk is amplified when a group of singers are singing together, eg singing to an audience, whether in churches or concert halls or theatres.”He added: “It is a nice study but not exactly representative of the real whole choir dynamic which really needs further study to truly assess the risk of such large volume synchronised singing vocalisations/exhalations.”