Ghana has recorded 772 new COVID-19 cases and this brings the active caseload to 5,515.
The Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye announced the latest figures at a media briefing organised by the Minister for Information-designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
GHS, he noted, has also seen an upsurge in adherence to COVID-19 protocols, particularly the wearing of nose masks.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye said surveys conducted in hotspots within the Greater Accra Region by the GHS showed that close to 80 percent of the population was seen to be demonstrating the intention of wearing face masks.
This move, he noted, was vital in suppressing the second wave in the country.
According to GHS, many of the 772 new cases were contracted on 30 January 2021.
It however observed that there is a drop in the cases recorded at the Kotoka International Airport.
Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged all Ghanaians to wear nose/face masks if they have to go out of their homes so as to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
In his 23rd national address on the disease last Sunday, the President also advised Ghanaians to stay at home if they had nothing important doing outside.
“You do not have to be arrested by the Police before you wear your mask, your workplace should not be closed for non-conformity with the protocols, if there is no urgent reason for you to be outside, please stay at home”, he urged.
President Akufo-Addo noted that “each one of us can help to contain the spread if we continue to practice the measures of social distancing, washing our hands with soap under running water, refraining from shaking hands, and, wearing our masks whenever we leave our homes. These measures must be respected by all.
“I urge you, my fellow Ghanaians, to continue to pay attention to your health, improve your fitness levels, and eat our local foods that boost your immunity.
“Should you at any point feel unwell, or exhibit the most common symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, dry cough, tiredness, please report to the nearest health facility and get tested.
“COVID-19 tests are free for all Ghanaians at public health institutions. If a Ghanaian citizen returns a positive result, the cost of care at isolation and treatment centres will be borne by the government”.
Weddings, funerals banned
President Akufo-Addo recently banned and imposed more restrictions on social gatherings including mass funerals, concerts, weddings, cinemas, beaches and night clubs until further notice to control COVID-19.
However, the Christian Council expressed reservations about government’s directive to ban weddings in an attempt to control the recent upsurge of the pandemic across the country.
Speaking to Nana Yaa Mensah on The Asaase Breakfast Show yesterday, the General Secretary of the Christian Council, Rev Dr Cyril Fayose noted their members will still comply with the presidential fiat.
“My initial personal reaction is that I think it is in place with the surge and new variants of the COVID-19 that we increase restrictions, and we must all work with government to ensure that,” he said.
He added, “When we did the lockdown the last time, we were given some prior notice so we could prepare for it. This one, even though it is not a full lockdown, to say that weddings should not be celebrated all of a sudden is a bit problematic.”
Easy target
Rev Dr Fayose stated it seems the church has become an easy target for imposing restrictions in attempt to enforce coronavirus protocols.
“I think the restrictions were on public gathering generally, but in most cases, it looks like the church is an easy target for enforcing these restrictions. But I don’t think the church is one of the sources of the spike in infection,” he pointed out.
Dr Fayose stressed that most churches have religiously adhered to COVID-19 protocols during their services.
“In fact, the church has been one of the most disciplined organisations as far as observation of the restrictions is concerned. So I will take an issue with someone who says it is the church,” he added.
However, the religious leader promised government they will enforce the new restrictions going forward.
