Covid-19 Business updates 02 April; 4th day lockdown in Ghana

Covid-19 business updates for 02 April 2020: 4th day of the locked down, 204 Cases in Ghana, GUTA calling for 6-month moratorium in loan repayment..

By End of Day

US$35 million approved by parliament to fight COVID 19, with US$700,000 earmarked for vulnerable groups.
Global infested rate has passed 1 million with death passing 51,000
Officially, Italy remain highest in both infection and death with 110,574 cases and 13,155 deaths followed by Spain with 110,238 cases and 10,003 deaths
Residents of Baastonaa in Accra have rejected the gesture by Rev. Titi Ofei to offer his 100-bed facility to be used as an isolation centre
Ghana’s cases now at 204, 4 have no travel case and no contact with any traveler, 3 recovered, 28 recovering, 49 being managed at home.
Five communities in Kumasi have been identified as a covid-19 hotspot
Global markets jumps slightly on the back of 10.63% jump in global oil prices on the back of Trump’s announcement that Saudi Arabia and Russia could cut production
Fuel prices further goes down, GOIL now sells at 4.34ghs per litre
Former Somalia Prime Minister, Nur Hassan Hussein, dies in London from coronavirus aged 83. Former president of the Republic of the Congo, Jacques Joachim Yhombi-Opango reportedly died of coronavirus infection

By Mid-day

Covid-19 business updates for 02 April 2020: 4th day of the locked down, Prostitution banned in Northern Region, GUTA calling for 6-month moratorium in loan repayment..
Ghana’s cases stands at 195 confirmed cases, 5 deaths, 3 fully recovered and 49 under home management
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) says it is highly disappointed in banks in Ghana after they refused to grant its member loan payment deferment amidst global coronavirus economics crisis. GUTA has requested that banks allow for loan repayments to be deferred for six months
The Ministry of Health has begun employment of all 2017/18 batch of nursing trainees into various health facilities across the country in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It may be recalled that, some of these year groups havebeen calling on government for their permanent postings
The International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), headed by Pastor Mensa Otabil, has made a contribution of one hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc100,000.00) to the Covid-19 National Trust Fund.
The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has described as a wholesale theft of the prospects of generations to come, as the government wants to withdraw from Ghana’s Heritage Fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The Institute further added that the move would be seen as an assault on the well-being of future generations. The Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas in Ghana (CSPOG) has expressed similar sentiments.
The Northern Regional Security Council has placed a ban on the activities of commercial sex workers in the region. In a letter signed by the Chairman of the REGSEC is in respect of the ten confirmed cases in Tamale
Nine members of Uganda’s famous children’s choir are in a stable condition after testing positive. The group was on tour in the U.S and Canada two weeks ago.
President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo has declared a three-month “state of emergency” and curfew aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus. Togo has a population of eight million has so far recorded 36 confirmed infections and two deaths from the disease.
According to Reuters, the American death toll from COVID-19 shot up by 925 to more than 4,800 nationwide, with 214,000 confirmed cases. More states are now embarking on the lockdown. Already the American health authorities have projected that some 100,000 to 240,000 deaths even with lockdowns
British airways which has already grounded much of its fleet due to the coronavirus crisis, has reached a deal with the union to suspend up to 80% of staff. This includes cabin crew, ground staff, engineers and those working at head office who will have their jobs suspended but no staff are expected to be made redundant . The two sides have reached a broad deal but are yet to sign on some details.
Oil prices are seeing their biggest gains in two weeks this morning with Brenjumping by 10.63% to US$27.37
There is a small stimulus for the Italian economy as Germany orders 200 tonnes of Italian pasta
Kenya Airways Plc. is appealing for a cash bailout from the government to be able to survive the next six months as the partially state-owned carrier runs out of money after grounding all international flights to help contain the coronavirus.
More on COVID-19 Business updates, 02 April to follow later