The compulsory face mask wearing issued by President Akufo-Addo on Monday 14th September has been expended by another three months.
In his 17th update on the Covid-19 situation, President Akufo-Addo noted that the act has necessitated in the decline of positive cases being recorded nationwide.
“When I delivered Update No. 16, exactly three weeks ago, the number of recorded active cases, that is persons with the virus, stood at one thousand, eight hundred and forty-seven (1,847). This number, as at Friday, 18th September 2020, has reduced considerably to five hundred and seven (507) persons.
“So, until 14th December 2020, the wearing of masks remains mandatory, and the law enforcement agencies will be required to ensure this directive is respected by all. It has served us well in the fight against COVID-19, so I urge each and every one of us to wear our masks, and do so correctly anytime we leave our homes. It is the new normal requirement of our daily existence until the virus disappears… they are and will remain our weapons in this struggle against the virus”.
President Akufo-Addo
He also advised the public to exercise discretion in going about their activities and also engage in physical exercise to boost their immunity to the virus.
“We have to remember to continue improving our fitness by exercising and eating well, patronising our healthy Ghanaian foods, which will boost our immunity to disease, and help us in the fight against the pandemic”.
In the face of these encouraging statistics, he further stressed on the need to do due diligence in averting a wave of Covid cases, as many are expectant of life returning to normalcy.
“Yes, our death rate continues to be low, and our hospitals have, mercifully, not been overwhelmed, as there are, presently, only twenty (20) severe and critical cases. Indeed, there are a lot of empty beds in our treatment centres, and the isolation centres have virtually no patients under care.
“But truth be told: we cannot afford, at this critical moment, to throw caution to the wind, and destroy the incredible amount of work undertaken by Government, health officials, heroic frontline health workers, and members of the security agencies, in bringing us this far”.
As a matter of urgency and principle he reiterated that, “we must be even more disciplined in our adherence to personal hygiene, mask-wearing, and social distancing measures that have become part of our daily routines. That is the way to eliminate the virus altogether. The experience in other parts of the world show us that the virus can return with a vengeance, once you let your guard down”.
Currently, President Akufo-Addo disclosed “some regions in the country without active cases”.
“Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti and Central Regions account for some eighty percent (80%) of the active cases. As at Friday, 18th September 2020, the total number of tests conducted is four hundred and seventy thousand, seven hundred and thirty (470,730)”.
