COVID-19: We Are Not Asking Ghanaians To Adhere To Safety Protocols For Fun - Dr Da Costa

The Director of Health Promotion Division at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Aboagye Da Costa has cautioned Ghanaians about the existence of the new coronavirus in the country as many have lost their guards since the infection rate reduced.

He attributed the reduction in the COVID-19 infection rate in the country to the decisions and the interventions of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as health officials, the media, NGOs, CSOs that are still playing their parts to help gain zero infection in the country.

“As we are thanking God for the low infectious rate of the COVID-19 in the country, we have to understand that if you look at the management of the COVID-19 in the whole world, I have been attending international meetings via zoom and you can really note that our President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the decisions and interventions that he has walked the country through has helped in the low infection rate in the country,” he acknowledged.

In spite of the success in the fight against the new coronavirus, the Leader of Risk Communication for COVID-19 National Response Taskforce on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show reminded Ghanaians that the virus is not yet gone as there can be a second wave as it has happened in other countries if they play the safety protocols to the gallery.

“Let me say that the virus is not gone yet and there were countries that did not have any record of COVID-19 case but there have been second waves of the virus in those countries. So, in Ghana, our strategy is that even though the infection rate is going down, we have not relaxed on the adherent to the safety protocols,” he indicated.

He, however, disclosed that management of the COVID-19 team in partnership with the Ministry of Information is engaging all the 16-regional House of Chiefs to sensitize and educate them through workshops on how their subjects will continually adhere to the safety protocols in case there is a second wave.

He thus assured that the management of the COVID-19 team is prepared for anything that might happen but then entreated Ghanaians to know that the adherence to the safety protocols is very important and only out to eradicate the virus.

“I keep on telling people to wear their masks, observe social distancing, regular washing of hands under running water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and eating well to boost the immune system and I want people to know that we are not saying this for fun”.

“If it is not working, we would not have enrolled these measures out for Ghanaians and so I will plead with Ghanaians to wear their face masks even if the social distancing is difficult to comply with. Let’s wear the face masks and make sure that we are all helping the government to attain zero active cases of COVID-19 infection; this is our focus right now,” he stated.

Dr. Aboagye Da Costa further assured that the team will continue to empower the communities as they want the communities to own the safety protocols in terms of wearing the face masks; thus, they are embarking on a program call the Community Ownership.

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