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How UK coronavirus variant prompts widespread travel restrictions

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UK coronavirus

How UK coronavirus variant prompts widespread travel restrictions – Interestingly, panic over a mutated, fast-spreading strain of the coronavirus identified recently in England caused travel chaos in the country over the weekend and has prompted several countries to suspend travel to and from the country.

UK coronavirus

 

Health officials in the United Kingdom say modeling estimates suggest the variant is up to 70% more transmissible and may be responsible for a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in South East England in recent weeks. Concern about the spread of the variant led the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose tier 4  restrictions—the country’s strictest coronavirus measures—in London, the South East, and East of England over the weekend.

 

 

The lockdown in London resulted in crowds of people rushing to the city’s train stations to leave before the new restrictions went into place yesterday morning. The restrictions make it illegal to leave the city unless for essential travel.

 

Good News! Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective

European countries quickly responded to the news, with France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and Ireland among the countries moving to block travel from the United Kingdom. Today, they were joined by dozens of other European countries and nations in Latin America, the Middle East, according to CNN . France also suspended freight transit across the English Channel, leading to the closure of several UK ports.

Johnson and his cabinet members are holding an emergency meeting today to discuss the travel restrictions, and European Union leaders are planning to meet to devise a “common doctrine” for dealing with the threat of the variant, the  New York Times reports

Studies of variant under way

At today’s COVID-19 media update, World Health Organization (WHO) officials addressed what is known so far about the UK variant, which contains several mutations of the spike protein in SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) that were identified through genomic sequencing.

WHO COVID-19 lead Maria Van Kerkhove, PhD, said the variant, identified by UK health officials as the B.1.1.7 lineage, was reported to the WHO on Dec 14 after an epidemiologic investigation by UK scientists of cases in the South East of England. In a statement today, the WHO said 1,108 cases involving the variant have been identified as of Dec 13. Most were people younger than 60.

Van Kerkhove said UK scientists are currently looking at differences in the variant’s ability to transmit, whether it causes more serious disease, and if it affects the antibody response. She explained that the reported increased transmission of the variant is indicated by an observed increase in the reproduction number—the number of people that one infected person can transmit the virus to—from 1.1 to 1.5.

“They’re trying to determine how much of that is associated with the variant itself, as well as behavioral differences in individuals that this variant has infected,” Van Kerkhove said. She added that UK officials have indicated they don’t believe that the variant causes more severe disease and or that it impacts the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, but that studies are underway to clarify those issues.

“As we speak here today, the scientists in the lab are working on these types of studies…and we expect results from those studies in the coming days and coming weeks,” she said.

In a risk assessment published yesterday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said UK officials began enhanced epidemiologic and virologic investigation after noting a pronounced increase in the 14-day case notification rate in South East England—from 100 cases per 100,000 in early October to 400 cases per 100,000 in December. Sequencing of virus samples in Kent, the area most affected, indicated that the increase was temporally associated with the emergence of the variant in November, a time when the country was in a partial lockdown in the wake of Europe’s second surge.

Public Health England (PHE) explained in a statement that backwards tracing suggests the variant emerged in September and then circulated at very low levels until mid-November. And in a report today, PHE said the “Kent cluster” of cases was concentrated in Kent and North East London and was phylogenetically very distinct from the UK dataset.

Mike Ryan, MD, executive director of the WHO’s health emergencies program, noted that variants are a normal part of virus evolution and many SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged in recent months, with some being more successful in establishing themselves than others, but that none so far have proven to be more severe or more adept at evading diagnostics. He also said it was prudent for countries to impose precautionary travel restrictions while they look at the risk assessment around the variant.

Ryan said the most important thing countries can do at this point is continue following proven strategies to reduce coronavirus transmission.

“We need to stop all SARS-CoV-2 transmission,” he said. “It’s the same rules with this virus [and] any variant of this virus, and we must focus on what we can do, and what we do know, rather than on what we don’t know.”

Van Kerkhove said Australia, Italy, Iceland, and the Netherlands have each reported a single case of the variant, and Denmark has reported approximately 10. She also noted that a SARS-CoV-2 variant identified in South Africa shares a mutation with the UK variant and emerged around the same time, but is different.

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Nigerian Travel Creator Alma Asinobi Falls Short of Guinness World Record Due to Visa Delays

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Nigerian Travel Creator Alma Asinobi Falls Short of Guinness World Record Due to Visa Delays

Nigerian Travel Creator Alma Asinobi Falls Short of Guinness World Record Due to Visa Delays

Nigerian travel content creator Alma Asinobi may not be setting a new Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across all seven continents after visa-related delays prevented her from reaching Sydney, Australia, within the required time.

In an Instagram update on Sunday, Asinobi, who is still en route to Sydney, confirmed that her total journey time would be 71 hours and 35 minutes, falling short of the current record of 64 hours, set in February 2025 by American veteran Johnny Cruz Buckingham.

Reflecting on her attempt, she noted that had she been competing against the previous record of 73 hours, set by Indian travelers in 2022, she would have surpassed it. However, multiple setbacks meant that by the time she made her announcement, she had already spent 63 hours, 54 minutes, and 33 seconds traveling, making it impossible to surpass Buckingham’s 64-hour record.

Asinobi faced numerous obstacles throughout her attempt, particularly due to visa restrictions associated with her Nigerian passport. One of the major setbacks occurred when she was denied boarding on her flight to Perth, Australia, forcing her to rebook on a later flight to Sydney.

In her Instagram post, she reflected on the challenges she encountered, including unexpected disruptions such as the Heathrow Airport fire that further complicated her travel plans.

“So close, but so far away. I may not have won this one, but we can sure win the next one together,” she wrote. “My eyes may be swollen from all the tears I’ve cried, but I promise to find moments of laughter in between.”

Despite the setback, Asinobi emphasized that her journey was about more than just breaking a record. She expressed hope that her attempt would inspire others to take on challenges, regardless of the limitations they face.

“When I land, we will catch up on lives and pour our hearts out to each other. For now, let’s finish this! I really hope this attempt was worth something for a Nigerian out there,” she added.

Now shifting her focus to her homecoming event on March 30, Asinobi aims to set another record by gathering Nigerians to sign a national flag in solidarity.

“We still have one more record to break at the homecoming event on March 30, where we will make history by signing our Nigerian flag,” she wrote. “I can’t wait to see you all there. I totally and physically cannot do that one without you, so please show up for me.”

Throughout her journey, Asinobi has been vocal about the difficulties Nigerian passport holders face, including complex visa requirements, expensive travel arrangements, and last-minute flight cancellations. Her experience has sparked widespread discussions on passport inequality and the barriers restricting global mobility for citizens of certain countries.

While she may not be taking home the Guinness World Record, Asinobi’s attempt has garnered widespread support, with many rallying behind her efforts.

“You did win! A personal win, a win for Nigerians, a win for me as a fellow Black girl navigating the world without passport privilege,” one supporter commented on her post.

Despite the challenges, Asinobi remains determined to continue making history and inspiring others to push beyond their limitations.

 

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Those who wronged you may never say “I’m sorry” – Prudent Ludidi

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Those who wronged you may never say "I'm sorry" - Prudent Ludidi

Those who wronged you may never say “I’m sorry” – Prudent Ludidi

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, I want to talk about something that can be difficult to accept, those who wronged you may never say “I’m sorry.”

 

Those who wronged you may never say "I'm sorry" - Prudent Ludidi

We’ve all been hurt by someone at some point in our lives. And often, we hold onto that hurt, and hope in waiting for the person who wronged us to acknowledge their mistake and apologize.

But the truth is, that apology may never come.

It’s hard to accept because we feel like we deserve closure. We deserve to hear that the person who hurt us regrets their actions.

But closure is not something someone else gives you. Closure is something you give yourself.

You have the power to choose:

Choose to heal, even if they never acknowledge their wrongdoing
Choose to move forward, even if they never make amends

Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. Forgiveness means releasing the hold that person has on you.

Forgiveness means taking back control of your life.

You don’t need someone else’s apology to move on. You don’t need someone else’s validation to heal.

You are strong enough to do it on your own.

And when you do, you’ll find peace. You’ll find freedom.

Remember, holding onto anger and resentment only hurts you. It doesn’t change the past.

But forgiveness can change your future.

So, don’t wait for someone else to say “I’m sorry.” Say it to yourself: “I’m sorry that happened to me, but I’m moving forward.”

Say it loud and clear: “I deserve to heal. I deserve to be happy.”

Take back your power. Take back your life.

Move forward with courage and faith.

You got this.

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LSACA, HEFAMAA,NAFDAC ,AVILA NATURALLE,OTHERS SET TO RECEIVE AWARDS AT THE WEST AFRICA SPA AND COSMETOLOGISTS RECOGNITION AWARD 2024

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LSACA, HEFAMAA,NAFDAC ,AVILA NATURALLE,OTHERS SET TO RECEIVE AWARDS AT THE WEST AFRICA SPA AND COSMETOLOGISTS RECOGNITION AWARD 2024

 

The west Africa Spa and cosmetologists recognition Award ,the first of its kind in Africa an event collaboration with Ghana Cosmetics Association holds at the prestigious Oriental Hotel lagos

An industry based award to honor legends ,stakeholders and cosmetologists in the beauty Industry ,Regulators and health Agencies

The organisers of the programme is poised with the development of this sector within the west Africa region using quality , safety and Professionalism as a watchword in the quest for products promotion and distribution.

The award will be used to promote individuals and brands in the Beauty Sector who have given their best in the development of beauty in west Africa.

As the drive for continental free trade Area hots up ,the founder of the programme Mr Chukwumah Emmanuel a Public Health Practitioner and the National President of Professional Association of Spa and Cosmetologists in Nigeria says that the perspective of this event is centered on encouragement and Networking within the sub region.

Other awardees for this event include Lagos Safety Commission, Beauty West Africa,and America Nigeria chambers of Commerce

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