Pressure group, OccupyGhana, has lauded president Akufo-Addo for extending the ban on social gatherings till the end of May, 2020.
In a statement, OccupyGhana said that is the surest way to stop the community spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the West African country.
“We believe that relaxing restrictions at this time and lifting the ban on social gatherings would be very risky. Relaxing the restrictions could speed up community spread, expose more vulnerable Ghanaians, increase the number of symptomatic cases and nudge up the case fatality rate,” OccupyGhana said in a statement released hours before the president extended the ban.
Below is the full unedited statement:
OCCUPYGHANA®️ SUPPORTS EXTENSION OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
OccupyGhana®️ notes that the current restrictions imposed on public gatherings by the Restrictions (Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic) Instrument 2020 (EI 64) are to expire tonight, 10th May 2020.
We have also noted with concern the rate at which COVID-19 cases in Ghana have risen since the partial lockdown was lifted on 19th April 2020. Positive cases have risen from 1,042 to 4,263 and deaths from 9 to 22 in 21 days. This rise is predominantly from community spread.
There has been little success in enforcing restrictive measures announced by the President, and for the most part they have been disregarded by the public. The good thing is that the majority of postive cases are asymptomatic and the case fatality rate has been rather low.
We believe that relaxing restrictions at this time and lifting the ban on social gatherings would be very risky. Relaxing the restrictions could speed up community spread, expose more vulnerable Ghanaians, increase the number of symptomatic cases and nudge up the case fatality rate.
This is why OccupyGhana®️ is asking the President not to relax the restrictions but continue with the current measures aimed at slowing and ultimately stopping the spread of COVID-19. We will support further and even enhanced restrictions, and for as long as it takes to bring the infections down.
We also encourage the Ghana Health Service to continue the campaign of testing, tracing and treating. Until a vaccine is available, that is the best way of managing the outbreak.
Lastly, we ask that epidemiological data about the outbreak in Ghana be made available promptly to the public to allow all to see our progress or otherwise.
Still in the service of God and Country
OccupyGhana®
Source: Daily Mail GH
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