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Covid's long-term impact should be 'clear priority' for authorities: WHO

COPENHAGEN, Feb 25, 2021 (AFP) - The World Health Organization's European branch said Thursday that patients experiencing post-Covid symptoms needed to be listened to and understanding long-term consequences should be made a priority by health authorities. "The sufferers of post-COVID conditions need to be heard if we are to understand the long-term consequences and recovery from COVID-19. It's a clear priority for WHO, and of the utmost importance. It should be for every health authority," Hans Kluge, regional director for WHO Europe, told a press conference.

Ghanaian president to receive first COVID-19 injection in Ghana

ACCRA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be the first to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country ahead of the mass vaccination which starts on March 2, Presidential Advisor on Health Anthony Nsiah-Asare said Thursday. According to him, the move "is to assure Ghanaians that the vaccines are safe" so as to encourage the entire population to avail themselves of vaccination. Nsiah-Asare dispelled doubts expressed by a segment of the public about the vaccine and urged the people to take advantage of the vaccination exercise to get vaccinated to defeat the virus. "We encourage everyone to avail him or herself of the opportunity to be vaccinated. It is safe and we want other Ghanaians abroad to also put out their videos to encourage others in Ghana," he said. The government of Ghana on Wednesday took delivery of 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines made by the Serum Institute of India, which was the firs...

Indonesia starts mass vaccination for journalists with president observing

JAKARTA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia started its mass COVID-19 vaccination for journalists on Thursday morning with President Joko Widodo observing the activity in Jakarta. The president said around 5,500 people have been vaccinated after observing the vaccination for journalists, which was scheduled to take place from Thursday to Saturday. "We hope this (vaccination) will provide protection for media persons, especially those in the fields, who often interact with the public, often interact with sources," he said ealier at the National Press Day. The head of state further said the vaccination of this group was not only carried out in the capital city of Jakarta but would also be implemented in other provinces across the country. Indonesia began the mass COVID-19 vaccination on Jan. 13, with a target of 181.5 million people until next year, to create herd immunity and end the pandemic.  

EU court fines Spain over data protection

BRUSSELS, Feb 25, 2021 (AFP) - The European Court of Justice fined Spain 15 million euros ($18.3 million) on Thursday for failing to transfer EU data protection rules into its own laws.  Spain will also face a daily ongoing penalty of 89,540 euros for each day it fails to do so.  Member states had until May 6, 2018 to transfer into law a 2016 European directive on the protection of web user's personal data in criminal investigations. But Spain did not and received a warning letter in July 2018 and January 2019. The European Commission lodged a legal complaint and on Thursday the ECJ ruled that Spain had not fulfilled its obligations. During the period in question, Spain's governments were struggling to form a parliamentary majority and to pass the necessary legislation. --- 

Nearly 90 pct of new COVID-19 cases in India reported from 7 states

New Delhi, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- India's health ministry said on Thursday that nearly 90 percent of the new cases reported in the country are from seven states - Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. "India's active caseload is 151,708 today comprising 1.37 percent of the total positive cases. This is largely attributable to the upsurge in daily new cases in the seven states," the ministry said. During the last 24 hours, 16,738 new cases have been recorded across India, and the seven states together account for 89.57 percent of the new cases. Maharashtra continues to report the highest new cases at 8,807, followed by Kerala and Punjab with 4,106 and 558 respectively. On Wednesday India's federal government rushed high-level teams to a number of states that have seen a surge in COVID-19 cases and warned that any laxity in measures to check infection will escalate the ongoing pandemic in wake of new strains detect...

School closed after teachers, students fall sick

Bajhang, Feb 25 (RSS): Dhuli Secondary School of Saipal Rural Municipality-4 has been closed for some days after the teachers and students suddenly fell sick. Assistant principal at the school Dhan Bahadur Bista Bhote informed that the teachers and students suffered from cough, fever, throat ache and nausea. The students from Grade 6 to 9 showed such symptoms. They did not get well even after taking medicine, so the School Management Committee meeting held on Wednesday decided to close the school for some days. There are 245 students and 11 teachers. Some days back, the students and teachers at another Dhalauna Secondary School had also shown such symptoms. The school closed for four days is however resumed now, said a local Basanta Bohara, adding that the teachers and students became normal now.  ---

Blacktopping of rural roads

Myagdi, Feb 25 (RSS): The blacktopping of the rural roads outside Beni bazaar has been going on in the district. The district which was connected to the national road network early in 2052BS had only few blacktopped sections as Beni bazaar, Beni-Galeshwor and Ratnechaur-Beni till recent time. Now, Ratne Chaur of Beni Municipality-1 and Babiyachaur bazaar have been blacktopped. Road Division Office Baglung blacktopped 1.3-km long road in Ratnechaur, according to Ward Chairperson of Beni-1, Tek Bahadur Rawal. Sarbasiddhi Construction Pvt had got the contract to blacktop the road at the cost of Rs 17.3 million.  Similarly, the contract has been made at Rs 169 million for expanding and repairing the Bhakunde road section via Arjam from Upallachaur in the district.  Ratnechaur is the entry point of ring road envisioned by Beni Municipality. With the collaboration of Gandaki Province government, Mangala Rural Municipality has blacktopped the Babiyachaur bazaar. Engineer at the rural...