President Akufo-Addo’s Health Advisor, Dr Nsiah Asare has indicated that many Ghanaians did not understand the President’s call last Friday when he announced a partial locked down of some parts of the country.
He described as sad when he saw a video of crowded people at the Agbogbloshie market engaging in business hours after the announcement to lockdown municipalities in Greater Accra, Tema, Greater Kumasi and Kasoa on March 30 was made.
Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ Morning Show, Dr. Nsiah Asare reminded Ghanaians that the purpose of the President’s declaration is to promote social distancing as that will reduce the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.
“I became sad when I saw a video after the President had announced the partial lockdown; a lot of Ghanaians did not understand it and therefore crowded at the Agbogbloshie market. There was no social distancing at the market place,” he said.
He was of the view that if Ghanaians comply with the restricted movement directives given by the President, the COVID-19 Medical Team will be able to work effectively to reduce the spread and then contain the disease in the country.
DR Nsiah Asare disclosed that the Noguchi Memorial Institute and the medical team have enough equipment to test anyone in the restricted areas who has been in contact with persons who have tested positive for the COVID-19.
He added that there will be mandatory testing in the partial lockdown areas to capture all those who have had an encounter with those who have tested positive.
“We want people who are in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi, the epicentres, to stay at home; we want to take advantage to contact those who have had an encounter with those who have tested positive. We will come around to do contact-tracing and test all of them whether they are showing signs of the COVID-19 or not,” he indicated.
To him, the idea should have been to test everybody in the restricted areas as it is being done in the United Kingdom but the means to test everyone is not there, hence, limiting it to only those who have been in contact with those who have tested positive in the restricted areas.
Source: peacefmonline
