News

What you should know about new coronavirus variant? A doctor’s perspective

Published

4 months ago

May 24, 2024

There is a new coronavirus variant in town. KP.2, a member of the so-called FliRT variants, nicknamed after their mutations, has become the dominant coronavirus strain in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These FliRT variants have certain mutations in common but are still part of the Omicron family of the coronavirus.

For the period from April 28 to May 11, nearly 30% of new cases were caused by KP.2, up from less than 16% in the two-week period before that.

What should people know about this new variant? What are the symptoms of infection? Do vaccines still work against the new strain? Is a home test still reliable? How long should people isolate if they contract KP.2? Who should take antiviral treatments if they contract this type of Covid-19? And what is the guidance for immunocompromised individuals — should they start masking again?

To guide us through these questions, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at the George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner.

Home tests will likely still detect KP.2, the new coronavirus variant. Grace Cary/Moment RF/Getty Images

CNN: What should people know about this new variant, KP.2?

Dr. Leana Wen: Since the start of Covid-19, we have been discussing new variants. The original strain of the virus was displaced by the Alpha variant. Then we had Beta, then Delta and then Omicron.

KP.2 is part of the Omicron family. It appears to be displacing JN.1 and similar subvariants, which previously were the dominant variants in the United States.

Whenever there is a new variant, there are three key questions to ask: Is it more contagious? Does it cause more severe disease? And do existing vaccines and treatments work on it?

One reason a new strain displaces the previously dominant ones is that it is as contagious or more so. That means KP.2 could spread very easily, which is something we have seen throughout Covid-19: that the coronavirus is extremely contagious and thus difficult to avoid.

The good news is that KP.2 does not appear to cause more severe disease. Indeed, hospitalizations associated with Covid-19 are at record lows. And there is no reason to believe that existing vaccines and treatments would stop working against it.

CNN: What are the symptoms of infection with KP.2?

Wen: Most people who contract the coronavirus will never know what variant is causing their symptoms. Symptoms of Covid-19 infection include runny nose, sore throat, headache, fevers, cough and body aches. Some people may experience more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath. Covid-19 could also exacerbate underlying conditions such as heart failure.

None of these symptoms are specific to KP.2, which so far has not been reported to be associated with unique symptoms that distinguish it from other coronavirus infections. It’s important to remember that in many individuals, Covid-19 symptoms may be difficult to differentiate from other viral infections, such as the flu or common cold.

News

Just in: INEC probes into over-voting in Edo election

Published

17 seconds ago

September 21, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is currently investigating cases of over-voting reported in the 2024 governorship election in Edo State

However, INEC revealed that the Osholo Primary School, Osholo polling unit case is the second case of over-voting it received in the election.

The Commission vowed to deal with any proven infraction.

“The Commission’s attention has been drawn to an allegation of wrong figures entered into polling unit result sheets in the ongoing Edo State Governorship election.

This is the second complaint we have received out of the 4,519 polling units used for the election. The Commission will immediately investigate the matter and deal with any proven infraction,” a statement by INEC reads.

Edo Governorship Election: PDP urges supporters to follow results

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its members and supporters in Edo to follow the results of the State governorship election from the polling units to the ward, local government and state collation centre.

The party gave the directive in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba in Abuja on Saturday, noting that the directive was to prevent any manipulation or alteration.

Ologunagba also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that all results as announced at the polling units were transparently uploaded to its server and duly declared at the collation centers.

Ologunagba said that the announcement and uploading of the results should be done in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines for the Edo State governorship election.

He commended the people of Edo for their resilience in enforcing their will at the polling units.

He also urged them to be alert and ready to defend their votes as they await the declaration of the final result

News

Edo election result of over-voting uploaded to INEC IReV as PDP demands proseecution of INEC staff

Published

2 mins ago

September 21, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A presiding officer identified as Josephine Obozuwa has uploaded a result of over-voting in the Edo State Governorship Election to the results viewing (IReV) portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This is just as PDP in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary demands for the prosecution of Josephine Obazuwa.

The Osholo Primary School, Osholo polling unit is located in Weppa Ward in Etsako East and has the polling unit code of 12/08/04/009.

The result sheet for the polling unit uploaded to the INEC IReV shows that 493 persons registered to vote at the polling unit. However, only 213 persons were accredited to vote.

Further checks revealed that Obozuwa assigned 352 votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC), 52 votes to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and one vote each to the Labour Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Total number of valid votes at the polling unit, therefore, amounted to 406 votes. With a total of 213 accredited voters at the polling unit, this is a clear case of over-voting.

Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, over 93% of polling unit results have been uploaded to the IReV portal as at 8:26 pm. A total of 4,239 out of 4,519 results have been submitted to the portal.

Over-voting: PDP reacts
Meanwhile, the PDP has reacted over the obvious over-voting case at the Osholo Primary School, Osholo polling unit.

In a statement signed by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the party, the PDP demanded the prosecution of Obozuwa.

The statement reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of an APC-compromised INEC Presiding Officer (PO) in the Edo State Governorship election, Obozuwa Josephine, for brazenly allocating non-existent votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The election result sheet for Osholo Primary School Polling Unit, Weppa in Etsako East Local Government Area shows that whereas 213 voters were accredited, Obozuwa Josephine criminally and fraudulently allocated 352 votes to the APC, 52 to the PDP and one to the LP, giving a total of 406 as votes cast.

“It is highly provocative that the INEC PO Obozuwa Josephine could be so compromised by the APC to audaciously and feloniously allocate unearned 352 votes to the APC above the 213 voters officially accredited in that Polling Unit.

“This reckless act by Obozuwa Josephine is reminiscent of the criminal conduct of the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari, during the 2023 Governorship election in that State, which provoked violent protest by the people and nearly led to the loss of lives of INEC officials.

“Obozuwa Josephine should take note that this criminal action by her could provoke similar consequences.

“Our Party holds that Obozuwa Josephine’s action is one of the many cases of electoral fraud, ballot manipulation, betrayal of public trust and crime against the State perpetrated in this election by the APC and unscrupulous INEC officials which must not go unpunished.

“Nigerians can recall that the PDP had on several occasions alerted that the APC had compromised the INEC system by planting APC members as Polling Officers to manipulate the electoral process and alter results in favour of the APC.

“The PDP demands that INEC effects the immediate arrest and prosecution of the indicted Presiding Officer Obozuwa Josephine, cancel the election in Osholo Primary School Polling Unit and take steps to address other such infractions in this election.

“Our Party again commends the people of Edo State for their vigilance and urges them to remain resilient till the end”.

News

CRP hails court verdict dismissing suit seeking to compel INEC to conduct fresh elections for Rivers 27 lawmakers

Published

1 hour ago

September 21, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A group under the aegies of Concerned Rivers People, CRP has hailed the judgement of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court Abuja, which on Friday, dismissed a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh or by-election to replace the 27 Peoples Democratic Party members.

Reacting to the judgment via a statement, CRP’s Convener, Emmanuel Chibuzor on Saturday expressed satisfaction stating that the iron cast verdict has confirmed that judiciary is truly the bastion of true democracy.

“The suit in the first place was uncalled for as it lacked merit and the PDP had written to INEC confirming that the lawmakers were authentic members of the party.

Chibuzor explained that “we’re very sure that superior courts will not deviate from this line of verdict as the suit lacks what it takes.

“This judgement has further confirmed that the judiciary’s integrity is very much intact and the last hope of the common man.

“We’re in total agreement with the development from the court as the unnecessary witch hunting in Rivers State is uncalled for.

“Nigerians can breathe fresh air as one can go to court to seek Justice and get delivered from the shackles of slavery.

“The situation in our days reflects days of slavery perpetuated by just one man at the detriment of peace loving Rivers people.