Citizenry urged not to be complacent in COVID-19 fight
Ghanaians have been cautioned not be complacent in their fight against COVID-19 as Ghana records low cases.
Speaking to the Ghanaian Times in Accra on Thursday, the Principal Health Directorate of Anton Memorial Hospital, Dr Samuel Bediako said the low COVID-19 cases recorded lately has led to many Ghanaians becoming complacent especially in observing the protocols.
According to him, their actions, if not curbed could lead to a possible fourth wave.
Dr Bediako said some Ghanaians have formed attitudes that needed to be worked against noting “that is why sustaining awareness and raising campaign is very critical”.
Christmas and New Year festivities he said were fast approaching and people who had not taken their vaccine should do so to avoid possible death.
Dr Bediako applauded citizens, institutions, religious bodies who were still observing the safety protocols.
He pleaded with the government to find ways of rewarding such faithful so others would be encouraged to follow suit.
Celestina Obeng, a seller at Amasaman market in the Ga West Municipality, said it looked like just a handful of people were practicing the safety precautions as the country was experiencing a third wave.
In commercials buses, she explained that adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols among passengers had dropped significantly despite the provision of state laws on the enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols adding that there was still poor enforcement of compliance of safety protocols at public places.
Ms Obeng bemoaned the number of people who still moved around public places, markets, lorry stations, churches, and mosques without nose masks and not observing social distancing.
She cautioned passengers not to board any commercial vehicle “if the driver and his assistant are not wearing nose masks, and called on drivers and their assistants to also demand that passengers wore nose masks before boarding their vehicles”.
Jemima Evans, Branch Manager of Opportunity International Savings and Loans at Circle, added that customers, service providers and visitors to her facility without nose masks were denied entry.
“As a financial institution, we have in the interest of our staff, customers, service providers and all other users of our facilities measures implemented to enhance COVID-19 protocols to make our banking environment safe and compliant with COVID-19 related workplace guidelines,” she said.
Mrs Evans emphasised that all visitors, clients and other stakeholders “must endeavour to wear nose masks, thoroughly, wash their hands with running water and soap provided at all banking facilities and observe the safety protocols advertised in the banking halls and other service points. “
He called on citizens and organisations to take up the responsibility to protect themselves against the virus by complying with the safety protocols.
From March 2020 to October 23, 2021, a total of 130,041 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Ghana through routine surveillance, enhanced contact tracing, and at the Kotoka International Airport.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus. Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment, however, some could become seriously ill and require medical attention.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
