Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, has confirmed that there has truly been newly recorded cases of COVID-19 in the country.
Speaking about the recorded cases by the GHS which is currently at 64, Dr. Bekoe disclosed that for the past two weeks, the Service has been recording a gradual increase in the number of cases and this is mainly in Accra with a few number of cases in about seven other regions.
“But predominantly it’s in Accra and they are from work places, a few that are from some parties and then there is also some that came from some conferences. So, those are the reasons we have got for the increase in the number of cases.”
Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe
Dr. Bekoe asserted that with the recent increase in cases, the public must be made aware that COVID is not over yet. “So, I think people should not have that misconception that the disease is gone because it is not gone.” According to the Health Director, unless the World Health Organization (WHO) declares that it is over, the nation still has to address the issues of COVID.
According to Dr. Bekoe, the pronouncement by the President that wearing the mask is not mandatory was misconstrued by a lot of people. Originally, he stated that there was this Executive Instrument that made it illegal not to wear the mask and that’s how come that statement was made.
“So, when you are walking in the street and somebody meets you, you cannot say my man why are you wearing a mask and find fault. The only thing we need to look at is, let’s say a work place which is enclosed, there is a lot medical explanation as to you being safe when you wear a mask in such environment. Usually, when one is in an enclosed environment, there is the need to wear a mask.”
Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe
Wearing of mask wasn’t halted
Touching on the issue of miscommunication on the wearing of mask, Dr. Franklin Bekoe averred that the Health Service after, the President’s announcement, came out to inform the public that the President didn’t mean there should be a halt in the wearing of mask. He iterated that it is recommended to wear a mask indoors.
“We organized a press conference and clearly stated what needs to be done to help the schools, the airports and other areas. I think people want to go to the other side and say that as for mask wearing, we don’t need it and not what the President stated.”
Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe
The Health Director revealed that the GHS is undertaking intensive vaccination campaigns as part of measures to ensure people are vaccinated to keep the cases low. Dr. Bekoe further urged the public to ensure they get vaccinated to be on the safer side.
“We as a service, we have been doing this monthly vaccination campaigns and the idea is to get to the level of population immunity that will minimize the risk of infection. So, I think, that is the situation I will say for now. We couldn’t do it in May so we are doing the first part in June. For June, we are doing 8th to 12th as the first part in June and then 23rd to 27th as the second part in June.”
Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe
