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HEALTH: Simple ways to know if you have Omicron

Published

2 years ago

December 21, 2021

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With the Omicron variant of Covid-19 spreading fast around the world, scientists have offered tell tale signs to know if one has contracted it.

Research into Omicron has revealed that the super mutant variant shows different symptoms from previous variants such as Delta.

Its symptoms are different from those of the “older ” variants, and are more similar to a common cold.

It has also been revealed that 89% of those infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant show the same “initial” sign.

These early signs, according to the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention, include a dry cough and a “scratchy throat”, with some others also reporting fatigue, congestion, sneezing or a runny nose.

Professor Tim Spector, who leads the ZOE Covid App Symptom study outlines the eight symptoms thus:

1. a scratchy throat

2. runny nose

3. fatigue

4. sneezing

5. lower back pain

6. headache

7. night sweats and

8. muscle aches.

READ Omicron COVID-19 variant: Nigeria on the alert – FG

““Hopefully people now recognise the cold-like symptoms which appear to be the predominant feature of Omicron,” Spector said.

The most common symptoms of the traditional Covid are a high temperature, a new and continuous cough or a loss/change in sense of taste or smell.

Though the symptoms of the Omicron variant have mostly been found to be mild, there are fears that it is more transmissible and can evade vaccine immunity.

Besides, being more similar to a common cold, Omicron symptoms have also been described as being far more mild by South African doctor Angelique Coetzee.

However, Dr Coetzee, who was the first person to raise an alarm over Omicron, which originated in southern Africa, has warned that some symptoms may be felt more intensely.

She said that some patients infected with Omicron – especially those who are unvaccinated – seem to suffer from intense headache and sore muscles (myalgia).

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FG extends FEC meeting to Tuesday, says ‘far-reaching decisions will be made’

Published

3 hours ago

May 13, 2024

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The Federal Government has extended the federal executive council (FEC) meeting to Tuesday.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and culture, announced the extension of the FEC meeting on Monday while speaking with State House correspondents.

The FEC meeting was held on Monday for the first time since March.

Idris said the FEC meeting will continue on Tuesday at 12pm.

“The council meeting will continue tomorrow, therefore, there will be no press briefing today,” the minister said.

“A lot of far-reaching decisions are being taken and the conclusions will be made available to you tomorrow. FEC will continue at 12 noon tomorrow.”

During the FEC meeting, President Bola Tinubu swore in two additional commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC).

The two commissioners are Fasuwa Johnson from Ogun state, and Amidu Raheem from Osun state.

Earlier, the cabinet observed a minute’s silence in honour of the late Fabian Osuji, a former minister of education; and Ogbonnaya Onu, a former minister of science and technology.

READ Omicron COVID-19 variant: Nigeria on the alert – FG

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Electricity tariff hike: We’ll go back to drawing board, FG tells labour

Published

4 hours ago

May 13, 2024

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The Federal Government has said it will go back to the drawing board with relevant stakeholders to address the issue of the electricity tariff hike.

Mamudah Mamman, permanent secretary at the federal ministry of power, spoke in Abuja on Monday while addressing members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Members of organised labour were out to picket offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), ministry of power and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in Abuja over the tariff hike.

The NERC on April 3 approved an increase in the electricity tariff for elite customers.

Organised labour is calling for a reversal of the increase and a return to the negotiating table.

Mamman said members of the national assembly have told the ministry to do a wide consultation with relevant stakeholders on the matter.

The permanent secretary assured that the ministry would sit down next week with the leadership of the NLC to see how the issues could be resolved.

READ COVID-19: UAE places ban on Nigerian passengers, others over Omicron

“The national assembly had written the ministry to go and do a wide consultation with all the relevant stakeholders,” he said.

“What the ministry does is give policy directions. We realise that the policy direction given is pushing Nigerians to the corner, and we need to do things differently.

“What we need to do is for all of us to come to the table, look at it, and decide what is the best way. I don’t have the power to reverse the tariff, so we will go back to the drawing board with the regulator and NLC.

“I’m going to take your message to the relevant authority, and we will look at it and inform you.”

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Reverse electricity tariff — we won’t accept band classification, Ajaero tells NERC

Published

7 hours ago

May 13, 2024

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The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, says the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) should reverse the electricity tariff.

Ajaero spoke on Monday when members of the labour body picketed the headquarters of the NERC in Abuja over the increase in electricity tariff.

The NERC on April 3 approved an increase in the electricity tariff for elite customers.

Ajaero said the protest was due to NERC’s unresponsiveness to the multiple letters sent by the NLC.

He added that the increase in tariff was arbitrary, noting that NERC did not consult relevant stakeholders before taking the decision.

The NLC president argued that Nigeria has 4,000 megawatts of electricity for over 200 million people, as against the global index of 1,000 megawatts for one million citizens.

“We are here on a peaceful protest having written so many letters to NERC that they cannot increase tariff without meeting with Nigerians, that the process of adjusting tariffs in every tariff methodology requires that they meet with all stakeholders, including labour, that we don’t know where this tarrif is coming from,” Ajaero said.

READ Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Fuel price: Reject World Bank N750/litre proposal, NLC warns FG

“And that NERC is not oblivious to the fact that Nigeria is wallowing in power poverty, that while the whole world gave a global index of one million people for 1,000 megawatts, Nigeria has 4,000 megawatts for over 200 million people.

“What Nigeria is generating today is not enough for Lagos, and it is bad enough to say some Nigeria are better than others; some will get 20 hours, some will get two hours; even in South Africa, such has never happened.

“Use the same magic that you are using to give some Nigerians 20 hours to give everybody in Nigeria 20 hours. Nigerians are saying no to discriminatory power allocation.”

He noted that the Manbilla power plant in Plateau state can generate 3,600 megawatts of renewable hydropower but has remained underperforming 30 years after its inauguration.

Ajaero urged the federal government to put an end to all taxes that could further increase the burden on Nigerians.

READ Yinka Odumakin's widow, Dr Joe gives birth to twins six months after husband’s death