[ 2021-01-31 ]

COVID-19 Surge: President reintroduces ban on social gathering
By Iddi Yire

Accra, Jan 31, GNA - Following the recent surge in
COVID-19 cases in the country, President Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Sunday announced the
reintroduction of a ban on social gatherings; such
as funerals, weddings and concerts until further
notice.

He said private burials, with not more than 25
people, could take place, with the enforcement of
the social distancing, hygiene and mask wearing
protocols.

He noted that beaches, night clubs, cinemas, and
pubs continue to be shut, and that the nation’s
borders by land and sea remain closed.

President Akufo-Addo said this in his 23rd update
on Ghana’s Enhanced Response to the Coronavirus
Pandemic.

“All workplaces, public and private, must employ
a shift-system for workers, in addition to the use
of virtual platforms for business or work,” he
stated.

“Conferences and workshops can take place with
all the appropriate protocols. However, I
encourage the use of virtual platforms for such
engagements.”

He said restaurants should provide take-away
services, and should, as much as possible, avoid
seated services.

“As at Friday, 29th January, 64 more people
have, sadly, died, over the last two weeks,
bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to
416,” he said.

“Our hospitalisation rates are increasing, with
the number of critically and severely ill persons
now at 172.

“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.”

President Akufo-Addo said the total number of
active cases had more than doubled, from a little
over 1,900, two weeks ago, to 5,358 currently.

“When I delivered Update No. 22, 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.”

The President noted that in effect, Ghanaians had
a lot of work to do in coming to grips with the
disease.

He said given that recent studies show that the UK
and other new variants were being transmitted
within the population, Ghanaians should all
understand that their current situation could get
very dire if efforts were not made, both on the
part of Government and by them, the citizenry, to
help contain the virus.

He said the analysis continues to show that the
spread of the virus mostly occurs in indoor,
confined spaces with poor ventilation, where
people were talking, singing or shouting without
their masks.

He noted that the imposition of restrictions on
their daily routines helped in reducing the
prevalence of the pandemic in the country, and
Government had been left with no option but to
re-introduce some of these restrictions in order
to help save the situation.

“I know these measures, in the recent past, were
unpleasant, but, over a period, they resulted in a
favourable situation for our country. We have to
return to them,” he said.

The President said 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.

To the revered leaders of religious organisations,
that is churches and mosques, the President
entreated them to enforce, to the letter, the
protocols relating to attendance, that is 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.

Source - GNA

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