Earth Essences.Com

British Airways passengers may face quarantine after fellow traveller to Barbados tests positive for coronavirus

Passengers who travelled on a British Airways flight from Gatwick to Barbados may be required to spend a week in quarantine after a 76-year-old tested positive for coronavirus on arrival to the Caribbean island.

Passengers who travelled on a British Airways flight from Gatwick to Barbados may be required to spend a week in quarantine after a 76-year-old tested positive for coronavirus on arrival to the Caribbean island.

The passenger, a 76-year-old Barbadian, was aboard BA flight 2155, which arrived at Grantley Adams airport on Saturday afternoon.

The Foreign Office warns British visitors to the island: “If you arrive in Barbados without being tested for Covid, you will be subjected to a mandatory test on arrival.

"You will need to isolate until the test results are provided. This can take a maximum of 48 hours.”

In fact, the results were produced more swiftly.

Of a total of 218 passengers on board, 149 had valid certificates showing they had tested negative for Covid-19.

The remaining 69 were tested and one was found to be positive.

That passenger, believed to be male, was taken to the quarantine and isolation centre at Harrison Point in the northern parish of St Lucy.

Seven patients are now in isolation at the specially built centre.

The new diagnosis brought the number of confirmed cases on the island to 105, of whom 91 have recovered. Seven have died.

Local accounts, which The Independent has not been able to verify, say that the passenger did not use a mask throughout the flight as British Airways requires.

It has also been reported that others seated around the passenger will be required to quarantine for at least a week.

The Independent has not received a response to its enquiries from the Barbadian government.

A spokesperson for British Airways said: “The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is always our first priority, and we work closely with the relevant authorities to adhere to international government requirements.”

Barbados is currently considering a scheme to allow foreign professionals to work remotely from the island for up to a year.

Reference: Independent: Simon Calder 1 day ago: 21st July 2020 

Nigerian Foreign Minister Onyeama tests positive for coronavirus

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said on Sunday he had tested positive for COVID-19, and became the first member of President Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet to contract the new coronavirus.ABUJA (Reuters) -

Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said on Sunday he had tested positive for COVID-19, and became the first member of President Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet to contract the new coronavirus.

Onyeama, 64, said on Twitter he had taken a COVID-19 test because of a throat irritation.

"Did my fourth Covid-19 test yesterday at the first sign of a throat irritation and unfortunately this time it came back positive," he tweeted. "Heading for isolation in a health facility and praying for the best."

Buhari's cabinet has been conducting executive council meetings virtually as part of measures to keep the government working while abiding by social distancing rules.

The government started a phased easing of lockdowns in May after implementing measures to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed 778 people in Nigeria and infected more than 36,000

Onyeama has played a role in repatriating Nigerians stranded because of travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buhari's former chief of staff, Abba Kyari, died in April from the novel coronavirus, making him the most high profile person in the country to die from the virus.

(Reporting by Camillus Eboh and Felix Onuah, Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha, Editing by Timothy Heritage)

Reference: Reuters: 1 day ago: 20th July 2020 Reference: Reuters: 1 day ago: 20th July 2020

Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg says cancer has returned but she will not retire

US Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has said she is receiving chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer but has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court.US Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has said she is receiving chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer but has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court.

The 87-year-old, who spent time in the hospital this week for a possible infection, said her treatment has so far succeeded in reducing lesions on her liver.

She will continue chemotherapy sessions every two weeks.

“I have often said I would remain a member of the court as long as I can do the job full steam,” she said in a statement issued by the court.

“I remain fully able to do that.

She said her recent hospital visits, including one in May, were unrelated to the cancer.

A medical scan in February revealed growths on her liver, she said, and she began chemotherapy in May.

“My most recent scan on July 7 indicated significant reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease,” she said.

“I am tolerating chemotherapy well and am encouraged by the success of my current treatment.”

By Associated Press Reporter 7 hrs ago 17th July 2020