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It’s been almost six months since the world announced the presence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, which was first detected in Wuhan, China.

On 13th March 2020, Ghana announced its first two cases from individuals from Turkey and Norway.

By April 11, the Volta Region recorded its first set of nine cases with the majority of cases centred at Aflao in the Ketu South Municipality, followed by Hohoe and Ho the regional capital with two and a case respectively.

Since then the world has recorded over 7.6 million confirmed cases with Ghana contributing over 12,929+ to the statistics.

The Volta Region is also inching closer to the top contributors of the national statistics with about 263 cases and counting.

What has been a source of worry for many residents is how the hotspot for the virus has moved from Aflao in the Ketu South to the Ho Municipality.

Ms Sylvia Awuye, a reporter with Holy FM in Aflao, noted that it was least surprising when Aflao became a hotspot and the first area to record the coronavirus pandemic since, “it is a multi-purpose business centre with foreigners trooping in through many of its approved and unapproved routes”.

But as at June 08, Ho had taken over from Ketu South with 62 confirmed cases, seven recoveries and one death against 40 confirmed cases and 22 recoveries for Ketu South.

Many ask, what is contributing to the rising cases in the regional capital?

Mr Ricmond Abake, Ho Municipal Information Officer and a member of the Public Health Emergency and Management Committee in an interview, said one dangerous factor against the COVID-19 fight in the Municipality was doubt and indiscipline among the people.

“The Assembly is doing a lot to sensitive the people but they have refused to listen! They doubt the existence of the disease and think we are making it all up,” he said.

Mr. Abake said to prove the existence of the disease and number of people infected, they mobilize all morning show hosts to the treatment centres to see for themselves how patients were faring and help tell the story to their listeners. But, he said, even that has not achieved much.

He recalled an unfortunate incident before the formation of the Municipal COVID-19 taskforce, when some people ganged up and mercilessly beat up the market queen for insisting they wore nose masks. In the scuffle they made away with her phone and destroyed the megaphones the Assembly gave her for the outreach.

When COVID-19 was first announced, the fear with which many people reacted if sustained may have brought the numbers down, some people have said.

After the President of the Republic partially lifted restriction on social gatherings, many had expected churches/mosques to operate in full capacity at least with the recommended number, but no.

A day before churches were to start operations after the lockdown, some orthodox churches in the Municipality issued statements calling their members to stay put until the coast cleared.

The Catholic Diocese of Ho on June 06 wrote, “Parishes and Out stations in the Ho diocese will remain closed to the celebration of public masses until further notice”.

Many churches followed suit with only about two charismatic churches operating but observing the social distance of more than one metre.

But the source of worry for some Muslims have been the operations of some mosques in the neighbourhood.

Mallan Umar, a tailor at Anglokodzi, a suburb of the Municipality is bemoaning how his area mosque is operating amidst all the safety precautions.

“I have stopped attending the mosque in the meantime. They still stand closely together during prayers after all the warnings, so I pray at home. This is an area where the mosque is known for its amalgamation of hawkers.”

In the early days of the outbreak in the Municipality, the same mosque was closed by the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Revered Johnson Avuletey for flaunting precautionary measures.

Asked how they were handling the issue, Sarki Yushau Turawa, Chief of Ho Zongo, said the activities of some smaller mosques were surprising.

He said prior to the lifting of the ban, they met with all Imams of major mosques in the Municipality and decided not to open the two main Friday congregational mosques until all safety protocol measures were put in place.

He said his checks on the activities of the few mosques that were allowed to open showed that proper safety protocols were not being observed.

The Zongo Chief said for that reason, a meeting would be convened soon to review its activities, and where applicable, close down those not complying with the directives.

A cursory look at some workplaces, places of worship, markets and homes show that people have become careless with the safety protocols by the World Health Organization and the Ghana Health Service.

Madam Teresa, a resident of Ho, said when the pandemic started making the news, in an attempt to protect herself and her families, she fumigated her house, stopped their numerous family members and guest from visiting them.

She placed handwashing basin, antiseptic soaps and tissue outside the main gate, while ensuring that members of the house who go outside, drop their clothes, footwear and any bag in the garage for onward sanitizing before being allowed inside.

“I can’t risk my family’s life”, she said. Madam Teresa’s strategy was the new norm in many homes but after a while the grip went down on the safety precaution because “no one we know has been infected”.

“Until the people change their attitude towards this pandemic and work towards complying with the safety protocols, Ho will continue to lead,” Mr. Abake warned.

The question, which begs for answer is should the fear factor be activated to whip up activism in residents or people should be allowed to still play the ostrich?