Government has re-imposed some of the COVID-19 restrictions following a surge in new cases and related deaths.
According to the state, it has been left with no other option but to reintroduce the restrictions to help save the situation in the midst of a second wave that has proved more deadly.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo disclosed this in his 23rd update on measures the government has taken against the spread of the Coronavirus on Sunday 31st January.
Funerals, weddings, concerts, theatrical performances, and parties, he said, are banned until further notice while beaches night clubs, cinemas, and pubs would continue to be shut and borders by land and sea remain closed.
The President entreated churches and mosques to enforce to the letter, the protocols relating to attendance, i.e. the two-hour duration, one-metre social distancing, mask-wearing, use of sanitizers, and the presence of veronica buckets, liquid soap, and rolls of tissue paper.
“Private burials with no more than twenty-five (25) people can, however, take place with the enforcement of the social distancing, hygiene and mask wearing protocols.”
“Restaurants should provide take-away services, and should, as much as possible, avoid seated services.”
“The National Sports Authority and the Ghana Football Association should ensure compliance with the twenty-five percent (25%) capacity rule in our stadia, with spectators respecting the social distancing rule and wearing of masks,” he said.
The President indicated, however, that since the re-opening of schools two weeks ago, only few infections have been reported amongst students and urged school authorities and teachers to enforce the guidelines provided by the Ghana Education Service.
He tasked the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to also continue surveillance of schools in order to be able to contain all reported cases.
“As we step up public education and enforcement of the protocols on public gatherings, let me also state that regulatory agencies will undertake random checks to ensure conformity with these rules, and the security services will be tasked to enforce them.”
“You do not have to be arrested by the Police before you wear your mask and 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. 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,” he cautioned.
Ghana’s coronavirus active case count has hit 5,358 from 1,900 cases two weeks ago, with 700 daily infections compared to 200 cases within the same period.
64 more people have succumbed to the disease as at Friday 29th January bringing the total deaths to 416.
The number of critically and severely ill persons is now at 172.
