In what it described as an “unprecedented disruption”, Heineken, beer lager giant, will cut about 10% of its workforce — that is 8,000 jobs — after the company recorded a drop in sales owing to the perils of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Thursday.
US authorities investigate distribution of fake N95 masks
Scammers seeking to enrich themselves have swindled healthcare workers, putting them at risks of contracting COVID-19 in the United States.
The US federal authorities are investigating the distribution of counterfeit N95 mask operation in which 3M masks were sold to medical facilities and government agencies.
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The fake masks are said to be difficult to spot and could put healthcare workers at grave risk of getting infected with COVID-19.
Steve Francis, homeland security official, said the masks give users “a false sense of security”.
Brian Weinhaus, special agent of homeland security, said a high demand for the product gave rise to the counterfeit operation.
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“These are businesses or individuals that are acting as if they’re medical supplies and acting as if they’re real, legitimate products. There’s so much demand for these products… they’re going outside of their normal channels to try and find them. When they see something that appears to be legitimate, they’re jumping it,” he said.
Kent COVID-19 variant to ”sweep the world”
The COVID-19 variant first found in Kent, UK, is set to become the world’s dominant strain.
Sharon Peacock, the head of the UK’s genetic surveillance programme, said the new variant has “swept the country” and “it’s going to sweep the world, in all probability”, adding that her work sequencing variants of the virus could be required for at least 10 years.
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“Once we get on top of it (COVID-19) or it mutates itself out of being virulent causing-disease then we can stop worrying about it. But I think, looking in the future, we’re going to be doing this for years. We’re still going to be doing this 10 years down the line, in my view,” she said.
The Kent variant was first detected in September 2020 in the UK and its rapid spread thereafter was cited as the reason for the introduction of new lockdown rules across the country in January.
The Kent variant B117, which spreads twice as fast as the original coronavirus, is now dominant in the UK and it is present in about 50 countries.
269 health workers contract COVID-19 in Edo
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In the course of fighting the COVID-19 and helping people stay alive, some healthcare workers have been infected in Edo.
Andrew Obi, the COVID-19 incident manager in Edo, said 269 health workers in the state have been infected with COVID-19.
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“Edo state, in the last 24 hours, recorded 25 new cases, 12 recoveries and one more death from COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths in the second wave of the pandemic to 37,” he said.
“Fifteen of the newly confirmed cases were reported from Edo Specialist Hospital laboratory, while the remaining nine cases were reported at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) laboratory.
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“We now have 269 health workers infected with the virus and 752 active cases that are being treated at various isolation and treatment centres in the state.”
Heineken cuts 8,000 jobs after COVID-19 hits sales
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The pandemic is still causing a devastating blow on businesses — with industry giant not spared.
Heineken has announced plans to cut 8,000 jobs after the company’s bars and restaurants suffered from COVID-19-related lockdowns.
The staff reductions, which amount to almost a 10th of the workforce, are part of a target for 2 billion euros in gross savings through 2023.
Dolf van den Brink, Heineken chief executive, said 2020 had been a year of “unprecedented disruption“.
The world’s second-largest brewer outlined additional strategic initiatives under its turnaround programme launched last year, including targeting an operating margin of 17% by 2023, which it expects, would bring the measure of profitability in line with levels achieved before the pandemic.
Ghana shuts down parliament after 168 lawmakers, staff contract COVID-19
Ghana has shut down its parliament for three weeks owing to the rising COVID-19 cases among lawmakers and staff.
At least 17 members of parliament (MPs) and 151 supporting staff were said to have been infected with the virus.
The parliament had restricted its sittings to Tuesdays and Thursdays owing to the spike in infections — with entry permitted to only MPs and staff needed for those days.
Alban Bagbin, speaker of the house, said the legislature will be on recess until March 2 to make way for “disinfection and sanitisation of the premises”.
“I have, in consultation with leadership, decided that sitting of the house be adjourned for three weeks,” Bagbin said.
COVID-19 IN NIGERIA
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