Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has published a list of 137 markets that will be closed on Monday (March 23, 2020) for disinfection as part of measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Accra.

The Ministry in a statement said the closure of the markets follow a Presidential directive that it coordinates with the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) to enhance the conditions of hygiene in markets across the country.

All the markets would be reopened for business on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

“In pursuant to the directives, a number of activities have been initiated including the disinfection of markets, public education initiation of market women on the COVID-19. In view of this, the general public is hereby informed of the disinfection of 137 markets in the Greater Accra Region on Monday 23rd March 2020,” the statement said.

“Metropolitan Municipal and District Anomalies (MMDAs) in collaboration with Market Queens and leaders are to close the attached lists of markets under their jurisdiction Monday 23 March 2020 for disinfection to enhance conditions of hygiene in order to contain and prevent the spread of the virus”.

Below is the complete list of markets;

Accra Metro (MMDA) Markets;

Jufo Jala (Tuesday)

Makola SSNIT

Makola 31st

Okaishie

Kantamanto

Agbogbloshie Vegetable

Makola No. 2

Kaneshie

Neoplan Station Circle

Salaga / London

Timber

Korle -Bu

ABLEKUMA NORTH (MMDA) Markets;

Mallam

Odorkor

Kokompe

Darkuman

ABLEKUMA CENTRAL (MMDA) Markets;

Abossey Okai

ICGC

Onion Market

Zongo Market

Shukura

Takoradi & Environs

Dan Lartey Area

Station Station

ABLEKUMA WEST (MMDA) Markets;

Dansoman

Last Stop

AYAWASO CENTRAL (MMDA) Markets;

Circle Market (Tip Toe Lane)

Mallam Atta

Alajo

Ayi Diki

AYAWASO NORTH (MMDA) Markets;

Kasoa Kuda

Kasoa Maamudu

AYAWASO WEST (MMDA) Markets;

Santana

University Night Market

KORLE KLOTTEY (MMDA) Markets;

Osu

Arts Centre

Tema Station GNA

Tema Station Metro Mass

Tema Station Market

Tudu

Adjabeng CMB

Abuja

Railway

Odornaa

Novotel No.1

Novotel 2

Pedestrian Shopping Mall

Adabraka

SHAI OSU DOKU DIST (MMDA) Markets;

Dodowa

Doryumu

Agomeda

Asutuare

Old Gazelle

Asutuare Junction

Kodiabe

Siakuman

ADA WEST (MMDA) Markets;

Sege

Koluador

Ayawaso North (MMDA) Markets;

Kasoa Buda

Kasoa Mahmudu

GA NORTH (MMDA) Markets;

Ofankor

Pokuase

Mile 7

Afiaman

KROWOR (MMDA) Markets;

Nungua Central

Old Town Bus Stop

Ga South (MMDA) Markets;

Galilea

Hobor

WEIJA GBAWE (MMDA) Market;

Mallam Station

GA CENTRAL (MMDA) Markets;

Anyaa Market

Ablekuma Curve Market

Chantan Market

Cosmos

Ga West MMDA Markets;

Amasaman A

Amasaman B

Medie

Sarpeiman

Three Junction

GA EAST MMDA Markets;

Yam

Dome

Taifa

Abokobi

Bohye

LEDZEKUKU MMDA Markets;

Lascala

Aduemli

Accra Yoshishi

Tsui Bleo

Mangoase

Martey Tsuru

Teshie Zongo

ADA EAST MMDA Markets;

Kasseh

Big Ada

Ashlemanor

Big Ada Community Centre

Ada Foah

KPONE KATAMANSO MMDA Markets;

Kpone New Market

Zenu

Katamanso

Timber Market

Tulaku

NINGO PRAMPRAM MMDA Markets;

Old Ningo

Prampram

Abekope

AYAWASO EAST MMDA Market;

Nima Market

LA NKWANTANANG MMDA Markets;

Madina

New Road

Bohye Redco

VRA

Kufuor Market

Mandela

Valco

Afariwa Junction

Ashaiman Main

LA DADEKOTOPON MMDA Markets;

Main

37

License Office

Burma Camp

Prisons

TEMA WEST MMDA Markets;

Texpo

Klagon

Adjei Kojo

Cambodia

Kanewu

Community 2

Community 5

TEMA MMDA Markets;

Community 9

Community 8

Community 7

Community 1

New Town

Fishing Harbour

Okaikwei North MMDA Markets;

Akweteman

Nii Boye Town

Achimota

Abeka

Ashawo

ADENTAN MMDA Markets;

SSNIT Shopping

Centre Ogbojo

Source: graphic.com.gh

Christians have been advised to strengthen their faith in God to benefit from His unlimited power that goes beyond human abilities and capabilities, as the world strive to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a message shared with members of the Gospel Faith Ministry in Accra on Sunday via social media, the Reverend Isaac Obed Asamoah, Head Pastor of the Church, said: “The coronavirus scare will surely pass as all believers turned to seek the face of God in prayers in the closet of their homes.”

“We need to hold on to God, we need to petition Jesus Christ, who has answers to all problems. God is still Supreme; and they that know their God shall stay strong and do exploits”, he said as he quoted Daniel 11: 33.

“In a period where most people are getting restless and confused over the COVID-19 pandemic, they need not fear but rather turn to God who is ever ready to intervene in any hopeless situation once people turn to Him for solutions.”

Rev. Asamoah said people should also understand that, most often, good came out of every bad situation and there would always be light at the end of the tunnel by the grace of God, who is still ruling in the affairs of all nations.

“God cares about his people and so we need to petition Him as the President of the Republic has directed,” he said.

“As a nation, we should not be afraid, we just have to petition God, for He alone can save a world…,” Rev. Asamoah assured all Ghanaians.

source: GNA

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) to coordinate with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enhance the conditions of hygiene in markets across the country.

A statement signed by Hajia Alima Mahama, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, which was copied to the Ghana News Agency, said in pursuant to the directives, a number of activities had been initiated including the disinfection of markets, public education and sensitization of traders on the COVID-19.

“In view of this, the public is, hereby, informed of the disinfection of the 137 markets in the Greater Accra Region on Monday, 23rd March.”

The statement said the MMDAs, in collaboration with market queens and leaders, were to close the attached lists of markets under their jurisdiction on Monday, March 23, for disinfection to enhance conditions of hygiene as a means of containing and preventing the spread of the virus.

It said the markets would be opened on Tuesday, March 24, for business.

The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council is to coordinate and ensure compliance with the above directive by MMDAs in the Region.

“The Ministry requests the cooperation of the public, especially traders and all persons conducting businesses in the markets, in this all-important exercise. We count on your usual cooperation,” the statement said.

The list of markets to be covered during the exercise include Accra Metro: Juforjala (Tuesday Market), Makola SSNIT, Makola 31st, Okaishie, Kantamanto, Agbogbloshie Vegetable, Makola No. 2, Kaneshie, Neoplan Station Circle, Salaga/London, Timber and Korle-Bu.

Ablekuma North: Mallam, Odorkor, Kokompe and Darkuman; Ablekuma Central: Abossey Okai, ICGC, Onion Market, Zongo Market, Sukura and Environs, Dan Lartey Area, Kaneshie and Station markets.

Ablekuma West: Dansoman and Last Stop; Ayawaso Central: Circle Market (Tip Toe lane), Mallam Atta, Alajo and Ayidiki markets.

The rest are Ayawaso North Kasoa Kuda, Kasoa Maamudu; Ayawaso West Santana and University Night Market markets.

Korle Klottey Osu, Art Centre, Tema Station GNA, Tema Station Metro Mass, Tema Station Market, Tudu, Adjabeng CMB, Abuja, Railway, Odornaa, Novotel No.1, Novotel 2, Pedestrian Shopping Mall and Adabraka markets.

Shai Osu Doku District Dodowa, Doryumu, Agomeda, Asutuare, Old Gazelle, Asutuare Junction, Kodiabe and Siakuman markets.

Ada West Sege and Koluador

Ga North Ofankor, Pokuase, Mile 7 and Afiaman markets.

Krowor – Nungua Central and Old Town Bus Stop.

Ga South Galilea and Hobor markets.

Ga Central Anyaa Ablekuma Curve, Anyaa Chantan and Cosmos markets.

Ga West – Amasaman A, Amasaman B, Medie, Sarpeiman and Three Junction markets.

Ga East Yam, Dome, Taifa, Abokobi and Bohye markets.

Ledzekuku Lascala, Aduemli, Accra Tsoshishi, Tsuibleo, Mangoase, Martey Tsuru and Teshie Zongo markets

Ada East Kasseh, Big Ada, Ashlemanor, Big Ada Community Centre and Ada Foah markets.

Kpone-Katamanso – Kpone New Market, Zenu, Katamanso, Timber Market and Tulaku.

Ningo Prapram – Old Ningo, Prampram and Abekope markets.

La Nkwantanang Medina Madina, New Road, Bohye Redco and VRA markets.

Ashaiman – Kufuor Market, Mandela, Valco, Afariwa Junction and Ashaiman Main markets.

La Dadekotopon Main, 37, License Office, Burma Camp and Prisons markets.

Tema West Texpo, Klagon, Adjei Kojo, Cambodia

Kanawu, Community 2 and Community 5 markets.

Tema – Community 9, Community 8, Community 7, Community 1, New Town and Fishing Habour.

Okaikwei North Akweteman, Nii Boye Town, Achimota, Abeka and Ashawo markets.

Adentan – SSNIT Shopping Centre and Ogbojo markets.

Read below the Minister’s full statement.

Source: GNA

A police officer got the shock of her life when a driver she stopped by the road, insisted she sanitized her hands before he would hand over his license for inspection.

The incident which was caught on camera showed the police officer with a straight face as she repeatedly ordered the driver to present his license.

“Please can I inspect your license?” she asked.

The driver, who is heard saying he is a staff of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) gently told the officer that he has the license but will only heed to the order on condition she sanitized her hands.

“Kindly sanitize your hands before I give my license to you,” he said.

This incident comes on the back of the Coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Among measures citizens have been advised to take to prevent contracting the disease, which has claimed over 10,000 lives worldwide, is to ensure that their hands are always clean either by washing with soap and water or using a sanitizer.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

One person out of the 19 persons who had earlier on tested positive for COVID-19 died in the early hours of Saturday, March 21, due to the patient’s serious underlying health complications.

The rest are doing well and responding to treatment, with eight of them being managed from their homes, in isolation.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced this on Saturday night in his third national broadcast to update the nation on COVID-19 in the country.

However, shortly after the national broadcast, the official Ghana Health Service website updated the total case count, reporting two more cases to make it 21, with one death.

The President said the health authorities had also begun contact tracing to test all those who had come into contact with the affected persons.

Fifty thousand (50,000 ) additional test kits, which had been ordered, the President announced, were expected soon to augment those in existence for effective diagnosis.

The health authorities were also mobilising new and retired health professionals to deal with the disease.

He urged the public to strictly comply with the prescribed health protocols and preventive measures – washing of hands with soap under running water; covering one’s mouth when coughing and sneezing; avoiding handshakes; and frequently using alcohol-based sanitizers.

Citizens should also eat healthily and have enough sleep to enhance their immune system.

Additionally, the President asked citizens to seek the face of God and declared a national day of fasting and prayers on Wednesday, March 25, to ask God’s intervention to curb the spread of the virus.

The Government has earmarked the cedi equivalent of $100 million to implement its preparedness and response plan, part of which would be used for the construction of critical health facilities, procurement of materials and supplies, as well as for public education.

All the measures being taken, the President said, were geared towards achieving five key objectives.

They are; limiting and stopping the importation of the virus; containing the spread of the virus; providing adequate care for the sick; limiting the impact of the virus on social and economic lives; and inspiring the expansion of the domestic capability to deepen self reliance.

The pandemic has, so far, claimed more than 10,000 lives and affected over 200,000 people globally.

Source: GNA

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has announced that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is mobilising new and retired health professionals to augment Ghana’s preparedness and response in managing the COVID-19 outbreak.

He said it had become necessary to put these additional measures in place to beef up the strength should there be a surge in the number of confirmed cases of infection in the coming days or weeks.

In a national broadcast on Saturday night to update citizens on the COVID-19 situation, the President said 50, 000 additional test kits had been ordered and were due to arrive in the country very soon.

More Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) were also being procured to beef-up supplies for frontline health workers.

It was heartening, he said, the number of healthcare professionals who had come forward to offer their services.

He commended the entrepreneurs who had positively responded to the crisis by producing greater quantities of sanitizers and ‘Veronica Buckets’.

He appealed to members of the pharmaceutical industry to scale up their domestic production of pharmaceutical products, saying the government would do its best to support them.

The President thanked all essential service providers for their support and commitment towards the common goal of suppressing the spread of the COVID-19 infections.

He said there would be a constant review of the measures announced, and if necessary, enhanced.

Ghana had recorded 21 confirmed cases, with one confirmed death, as at 2115 hours on Saturday, March 21, 2020.

President Akufo-Addo urged the MOH not to only step up contact tracing, but to also ensure that all persons who had come into contact with any person who had tested positive to also get tested.

He stated that the cases of localized infections required all persons to maintain strict self discipline, and to continue the practice of the prescribed social distancing and enhanced protocols in all aspects of their daily lives.

These include frequent handwashing with soap under running water, or the use of alcohol-based hand rub, avoiding shaking of hands and unnecessary close body contact.

The President pleaded with all citizens to comply with these measures, saying their survival was in their own hands.

Source: GNA

The crave for hand sanitizers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic manifested Friday morning when residents of Dagomba Line, a Muslim community in the Asokore Mampong Municipality, rushed for the product as a native of the community distributes them for free.

Mr Ali Suraj, the Philanthropist, was virtually mobbed in the desperate attempt by residents to secure the sanitizers, which has been in high demand since Ghana recorded its first case of the coronavirus.

No amount of persuasion to calm them that the product was in abundance would make them retreat, thereby creating a chaotic scene throughout the exercise.

The residents could not hide their joy for having access to one of the basic products needed for self-protection against the dreaded disease.

They told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the sudden hike in price of sanitizers had denied some of them access to the product.

“We are very grateful to Ali Suraj for this timely intervention since most of us cannot afford the sanitizers due to the increase in prices,” Jamal Abubakar, a resident, said.

He praised the Philanthropist for going to the aid of his people and called on others to emulate his example to help protect the less-privileged in society.

Mr Suraj said he decided to give back to his community to protect those who could not afford the sanitizers, having lived there for many years.

He said it was important to target the vulnerable in society to ensure they were also protected against the disease, and that no one must be left behind in the preventive efforts being made by all stakeholders.

Mr Suraj, who took the opportunity to educate the people on the dangers of the COVID-19, entreated them to adhere to all safety measures.

Source: GNA

Health authorities at Paga in the Kasena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region are currently monitoring a suspected case of coronavirus.

The suspected case was detected yesterday by health workers at the Nakolo Clinic and efforts are being made to ascertain the condition.

The patient, it is gathered, came to the facility from one of the nearby villages close to the border on the side to Burkina Faso to seek health care.

According to the District Director of Health Service, Hypolite Yeleduor, who shared details with Ghanaweb’s Senyalah Castro, the workers after admitting the patient observed symptoms similar to the disease and detained him for further observation.

Mr. Yeleduor said interaction with the patient revealed that he joined a gathering at a funeral home and later got sick, raising fears he might have been infected with the virus there.

He said authorities at the regional level have been informed about the case and samples would soon be picked for tests in Accra.

He added that some other samples have also been sent to the regional hospital for testing for other suspected conditions.

Mr. Yeleduor said: “Yesterday, workers at the Nakolo Clinic detected symptoms of the COVID-19 on a patient who had come in from one of the villages near the border towards Burkina Faso. So seeing those symptoms, the nurses reported to their in- charge who went there today to ascertain the case”.

“We can’t entirely say it’s COVID-19 because he is showing symptoms of other diseases like Hypertitis and some other diseases. We have sent samples to the regional hospital for tests and we are waiting to see the outcome.”

“We have also informed the regional team and samples for the COVID-19 testings will also be picked and sent Accra. We don’t have the capacity to run such tests here.”

He urged the public to keep calm while efforts are made to establish the condition.

He lamented the porous state of the Ghana border and the numerous unapproved routes people use to enter the country.

The Commissioner of Insurance, at the National Insurance Commission (NIC) Justice Yaw Ofori, has said the Commission has asked staff whose work permits them to work from home to do so in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

This forms part of measures to protect staff from contracting the infection.

Ghana has recorded sixteen cases of the infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic.

In a statement, Mr Ofori said: “Staff who take public transport to and from work should be assisted to take appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of infection. We also encourage and permit non-essential staff to take some leave as those whose work schedule makes it possible for them to work from home are also encouraged to do so to reduce the number of people in the office.”

It added: “Chief Executive Officers and other senior staff are advised to minimize the use of drivers. As much as possible, they are advised to drive their vehicles to minimize the risk of infection, the statement added.

Among other things, the Commission says it also “ensures that critical and front-line staff are provided with appropriate protective resources like gloves and sanitizers and trained to adopt appropriate strategies to minimize the risk of infection.”

Source: laudbusiness.com

Ghana has recorded its first COVID-19 death in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi.

This was confirmed by the Deputy Minister of Health, Alexander Abban, in an interview with GHOne TV.

The victim,Tarik Minkara, is a 61-year old male Lebanese national who tested positive for the virus this week.

Expressions of condolences have been pouring in on his timeline on Facebook.

Ghana announced, Saturday, that it had recorded three additional cases, bringing its total number of cases to 19.

The Ghana Health Service, in an update, said two of the latest cases were reported from Greater Accra Region and one from Ashanti Region.

1. 55-year-old Ghanaian woman; resident of the UK; returned to Ghana within two weeks; sample confirmed positive in the laboratory

2. 84-year-old Ghanaian lady resident of the United Kingdom; came back to Ghana within the past two (2) weeks; developed symptoms and sample confirmed positive in the laboratory

3. 27-year-old Chinese male; returned to Ghana (Ashanti Region) in the past two weeks; developed symptoms and sample confirmed positive in the laboratory.

Report reaching MyNewsGh.com indicates that, Ghana has recorded a total of twenty-one (21) confirmed coronavirus cases as at Saturday March 21 2020.

It is unclear in which cities or communities these news cases were recorded.

“Coronavirus cases has reached 21”. Dr. Frank Serebour, Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) revealed on Kumasi-based Pure FM.

According to him, since Ghana has recorded local case, contact tracing would be of no necessary.

Prior to the latest revelation of confirmed cases, a 55-year-old Ghanaian woman who resides in the United Kingdom but returned to Ghana about two weeks ago has tested positive after showing symptoms.

The 18th case is also a Ghanaian lady resident in the UK. The 84-year-old lady came to Ghana within the past two (2) weeks and developed symptoms. Laboratory tests of her sample confirmed the coronavirus.

A 27-year-old Chinese male who returned to Ghana and travelled to the Ashanti Region in the past two weeks developed symptoms and sample confirmed positive in the laboratory.

Source: MyNewsGH.com

A Ghanaian infected by the deadly coronavirus has said he doesn’t know how he got the virus.

The patient had returned from Paris, France, where the virus has affected nearly 10,000 persons and killed 264 people.

Speaking to Joy News, the patient, who has been quarantined at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, said he voluntarily submitted himself to tested.

This was after his employers asked him to self-quarantine upon his return to the country from Europe, where the virus has wreaked much havoc.

He had spent nearly 14 days in France, he told Joy News. He is among the 16 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Speaking about life under quarantine, he described it as a ‘special prison’ where “your rights are taken away from you.”

He, however, added that he is receiving special attention from the team of health experts assigned to them.

Source: pulse.com.gh

Businesses in the hospitality industry in Accra have reinforced safety measures in line with both local and global health directives to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

A visit to some hospitality centres by Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday saw a dramatic adjustment of frontline operations, as some of the hotels, restaurants, fast food and indigenous food joints have all introduced measures to protect staff and patrons.

All of the hotels visited, which included Tang Palace Hotel, Marriot Hotel, Alisa Hotel, Holiday Inn, Africa Regent, Airport View, AH Hotel, Airport West, Tomreik Hotel, Green Oak Hotel, and East Gate among others, had instituted COVID-19 safety measures.

Some of the safety measures included provision of hand sanitizers at the frontage for people to use before entering, provision of gloves and masks for staff and public education posters placed at vantage points.

GNA observed that at the Buka Restaurant as well as other centres, in addition to the provision of hand sanitizers, they had adopted social distancing sitting arrangement to ensure that customers were protected. “We have also detailed a staff whose duty is to sanitize all door handles and other surfaces every 30 minutes to ensure that any particles or droplets are cleared immediately,” an official told GNA.

Many of the managers told GNA that COVID-19 was having a major impact on their business as customers continued to cancel conferences and other social events booked earlier.

“The hotel industry is in distress, as our source of income is dwindling at a fast rate, our overhead costs has increased astronomically as the issues of sanitizers, gloves and masks has become a major commodity on our purchasing list, which we never anticipated or budgeted for,” a manager said.

Other hotels have already started cutting down staff whilst others are monitoring the business environment for the next four weeks to adopt appropriate measures on the management of staff.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has spelt out a number of measures with regards to court procedures, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.

A release signed by Mr Yaw Acheampong Boafo, National Secretary of the GBA and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the measures were to decongest the courts and also observe the prescribed social distancing protocols to prevent the possible further spread of the virus.

It said in view of the fact that there are presently cases that have already been scheduled before courts, lawyers may communicate with their colleagues in a matter if they were desirous of adjournments.

Where a matter is pending in a court, even if part heard, Counsel may agree on a date and inform the Registrar of the relevant Court accordingly by correspondence, the release said, adding that Lawyers may opt to take long adjournments within the term.

The release said all cases pending before the Courts must be adjourned to specific times on specific dates and that lawyers, must endeavour to appear only at the scheduled time.

Lawyers are to dispense with the presence of their clients and their acquaintances when applications are listed for hearing and in cases that are not part heard, the release said.

It said in cases that are part heard, lawyers must appear with the parties and witnesses scheduled to give evidence on the specific date.

Source: GNA

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has postponed the 11th National Development Forum (NDF) scheduled for March 25.

A release signed by Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampah, Director General, NDPC, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said this was due to the confirmation of COVID-19 in Ghana, on Thursday, March 12, and the subsequent national directives issued by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on public gathering.

“A new date will be announced later, subject to further national directives on public gathering. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” it said.

Ghana so far has 16 cases. They were recorded in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.

It reminded the public to follow the precautionary measures issued by the Ghana Health Service and comply with the Government’s directives on public gathering.

The measures include the regular washing of hands with soap under running water, the use of hand sanitizers and maintaining a distance of at least two metres from people who coughed or sneezed.

The President has also directed the indefinite closure of schools, the ban on social and religious activities for four weeks, among others.

It also advised the public to seek information about COVID-19 from only the state institutions mandated to give periodic updates on the pandemic to avert a panic situation in the country.

Source: GNA

The Speaker, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye has directed all Members of Parliament (MPs) to wear face masks when working in the Chamber.

The measure is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease among members and staff in the House.

Professor Oquaye, who was wearing a face mask, urged members to take the measure serious for the good of everyone.

The Speaker on Wednesday 18, 2020 directed the relevant administration to fumigate the Chamber and other sectors of the legislature before the House sits.

He also directed the Clark and the Leadership of Parliament to rearrange the seats in the Chamber in order for MPs to keep sufficient distance from one another in tandem with the World Health Organization (WHO) protocols.

The Speaker tasked the leaders to consider creating spaces using the public gallery and other available areas in the House to prevent MPs from sitting too close.

The Speaker said the directive for the new sitting arrangements due to the outbreak the coronavirus disease are in line with the WHO guidelines.

Source: GNA

Young people are not immune from coronavirus and must avoid socialising and communicating it to older, more vulnerable people, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

The choices made by the young can be “the difference between life and death for someone else”, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Over 11,000 patients have died from the Covid-19 respiratory illness worldwide.

Nearly 250,000 patients have tested positive overall.

The WHO chief’s remarks follow reports that young people in many countries are being complacent about health warnings, because of the greater susceptibility to the virus among older patients.

The coronavirus outbreak was first recorded in China in December. But now the centre of the pandemic is Europe.

In Italy – where the virus has killed more people than in any other country – the death toll rose by 627 on Friday, reaching a total of 4,032, making it the deadliest day for one country since the outbreak began.

Speaking at an online news conference from WHO headquarters in Geneva, Mr Tedros said: “Although older people are hardest hit, younger people are not spared.”

He added: “I have a message for young people: You are not invincible, this virus could put you in hospital for weeks or even kill you. Even if you don’t get sick the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else.”

Mr Tedros welcomed developments from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak originated, which reported no new cases on Thursday.

He said this provided “hope for the rest of the world that even the most severe situation can be turned around”.

Studies have show that people of all ages can be infected by the virus – but it is especially dangerous for older people and those with underlying illnesses.

The average age of those who died from Covid-19 in Italy was 78.5 years.

Fewer than 1% of patients under the age of 50 died in China, according to the New York Times. But it was fatal for nearly 15% of those who were over the age of 80.

The WHO is now recommending “physical distance” instead of “social distancing” to help prevent transmission of the virus, Reuters reports.

“We want people to remain connected,” said Dr Maria Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, told the news agency.

“So find ways to do that, find ways through the internet and through different social media to remain connected because your mental health going through this (pandemic) is just as important as your physical health,” she said.

Source: bbc.com

Eight Ghanaians who contracted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are reported to have recovered, a highly placed government official has told kasapafmonline.com.

As at Friday, March 20, 2020, Ghana has confirmed and recorded 16 cases of the coronavirus.

Considering the number of recorded cases, it means 50 percent of victims have recovered.

They are reported to be showing no signs of the symptoms of the disease after undergoing numerous tests by the Noguchi Memorial Laboratory.

President Akufo Addo last Sunday announced the shut down of all educational institutions universities, second cycle schools and basic schools effective, March 16, 2020, until further notice in the wake of the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19.

However, BECE and WASSCE candidates will be allowed to prepare for their examination under prescribed social distancing protocols.

All public gatherings, including conferences, workshops, funerals, political rallies, sporting events, such as services in churches and mosques have been suspended for the next four weeks.

Private burials are however permitted but with limited numbers not exceeding 25 people in attendance.

He reiterated that travel bans announced are still in force.

source: kasapafmonline.com.

Theindependentghana.com is picking up updated information on the number of recorded cases of the novel Coronavirus in Ghana.

Available Information reaching us suggests that 9 new Coronavirus cases have been recorded sending the total tally 25.

Government is expected to hold a press briefing to update the public.

Earlier reports, however suggests that the government might be sieving the actual number of Coronavirus infections, confirmed by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra.

Credible sources, have told The Independent Ghana, the research center could be handling more than 25 cases of infection.

More coming soon…

Information available to backend.theindependentghana.com indicates that Niger has reported its first case of the coronavirus, tracing victims travel history to Ghana.

According to a available information, the patient was reported to have returned to Niger after passing through several countries including Togo, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.

The 36-year-old patient is believed to have been working for a transport company.

He had travelled through Lome, Accra, Abidjan and Ouagadougou.

According to the Niger government, the patient is stable and efforts were ongoing to contain the virus.

Niger becomes the latest African country to confirm its 1st case of the deadly coronavirus also known as the COVID-19.

Sixteen cases of the novel coronavirus have been recorded in Ghana.

Three of the five new cases have no travel history.

According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), all five were reported from the Greater Accra Region.

The first new case is a 29-year-old Ghanaian lady who is a resident of Accra who has no history of travel.

The second case is a 34-year-old Ghanaian lady also resident in Accra. The patient is a contact of a confirmed case at a place of work; sample confirmed positive in the laboratory.

A 53-year-old Ghanaian male is the third confirmed case. He is resident in Tema with no travel history. GHS said there was no evidence of close contact with confirmed case and sample confirmed positive in the laboratory.

Members of Ghana’s Parliament (PMs) on Friday (March 20, 2020) were seen wearing face masks as part of measures to avert the spread of the novel coronavirus in the chamber.

The move is as a result of a directive by the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye to all MPs to wear face masks while working

Prof. Oquaye himself was seen wearing a face mask in the House.

Ghana has so far confirmed 16 Coronavirus cases as at Friday March 2020.

According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) all the five new cases were reported from Greater Accra Region.

Source: graphic.com.gh