President Nana Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says with the recent spike in the Covid-19 pandemic, which has doubled the number of active cases, the government has been left with no option but to re-introduce some of the earlier restrictions in order to help save the situation.
In the last two weeks, the total number of active cases has more than doubled from a little over 1,900 to 5,358.
Addressing the nation yesterday on updates to Ghana’s enhanced response to the coronavirus pandemic, the President said statistics show that “as at Friday, January 26, 64 more people have, sadly, died, over the last two weeks, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 416.”
“Our hospitalisation rates are increasing, with the number of critically and severely ill persons now at172. Our hospitals have become full, and we have had to reactivate our isolation centres. Our average daily rates of infection now stand at 700, compared to 200 two weeks ago,” he said in his address.
According to the President, during his last update, 13 out of the 16 regions had recorded active cases.
“Today, all 16 regions have active cases. Indeed, Greater Accra, Central, Western, Ashanti, Eastern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, and Northern Regions are the hardest hit, accounting for 94 per cent of the total number of active cases,” he said.
Restrictions
President Akufo-Addo further said there is more work to be done in other to curb the disease.
“Given that recent studies show that the UK and other new variants are being transmitted within the population, we should all understand that our current situation could get very dire if efforts are not made, both on the part of Government and by you, the citizenry, to help contain the virus. The analysis continues to tell us that the spread of the virus mostly occurs in indoor, confined spaces with poor ventilation, where people are talking, singing or shouting without their masks,” he said.
The President said in as much as the introduction of the restrictions some time back were unpleasant to Ghanaians, the government has been left with no option but to re-introduce some of these restrictions in order to help save the situation.
To this end, the President said until further notice, funerals, weddings, concerts, theatrical performances and parties are banned.
Private burials, with no more than 25 people, can take place, with the enforcement of the social distancing, hygiene and mask wearing protocols whilst beaches, night clubs, cinemas, and pubs continue to be shut.
Ghana’s borders by land and sea remain closed as well.
Shift system
The President implored all workplaces, public and private, to adopt the shift-system for workers in addition to the use of virtual platforms for business or work.
Restaurants, he added, must 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 25 per cent capacity rule in our stadia, with spectators respecting the social distancing rule and wearing of masks,” he said.
With regards to religious activities, the President entreated the leadership to continue to enforce to the letter the protocols relating to attendance.
He again appealed to school authorities to enforce the guidelines provided by the Ghana Education Service whilst the Ghana Health Service continues its surveillance in the schools.
Wearing of masks
President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to continue to wear their masks, adding that if one has no urgent business outside they should remain home.
“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,” the President said.
Vaccines
He reiterated that Ghana is set to procure her first consignment of the COVID vaccines within the first half of this year.
“Our aim is to vaccinate the entire population, with an initial target of twenty million people. Through bilateral and multilateral means, we are hopeful that, by the end of June, a total of 17.6 million vaccine doses would have been procured for the Ghanaian people. The earliest vaccine will be in the country by March,” he said.
He said the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) would use its established processes for granting emergency-use-authorisation for each vaccine in Ghana, assuring that as President, he would ensure that only vaccines that have been evaluated and declared as safe-for-use in Ghana will be administered.
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