A week after relaxing lock down, Ghana records 271 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours
ACCRA – Barely a week after relaxing lock down, Ghana confirmed 271 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total number to 1,550 with 11 deaths, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said.
Ghana, now with the highest number of infected cases in West Africa, has also recorded 155 recoveries as 35 more infected persons under treatment have had their second successive negative tests for the virus and have been discharged.
The capital where the West African country recorded its first two index cases on March 12, has remained the epicenter for the pandemic with 1,347 cases.
Just a week ago,the Ghanaian government had lifted a three-week-long lockdown of the capital and two other hardest-hit cities following fears of economic hardship and difficulty in providing palliatives to its citizens who feed from hand to mouth. This category of people constitute the critical mass of the West African country.
In a televised address, President Nana Akufo-Addo had announced the lifting of restrictions on movement around the capital Accra as well as Kumasi saying the lock down was having a “severe impact on the poor”.
To strengthen the fight against the spread of the pandemic, the authorities in some regions and local government areas have followed up to make the wearing of face masks mandatory.
Public places such as markets, shopping centers, and banks are also ordered to ensure their customers wear masks before entering their premises.
Following this new development, it is yet to be seen whether the country will continue to relax its restrictions or change back to locking down the country in order to check the spread of the deadly virus.
Sources:
CNBC AFRICA
XINHUA
