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General news for Monday, January 18, 2021
Source: GNA
01/18/2021
Some students in their nasal masks
On Monday, heads of basic schools in Sunyani Municipality ensured strict adherence to government guidelines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with children returning to school after staying home for nearly a year .
In March last year, the government ordered the closure of all schools nationwide to stem and contain the spread of the pandemic, but base schools reopened on January 15 this year, when the country managed to flatten the COVID-19 curve.
Although a new wave of infection from the pandemic is apparently increasing, given that 13 of the country’s 16 regions have recorded active cases, the government has estimated that if school authorities strictly adhere to COVID- health and safety protocols 19, the spread of the disease could be prevented.
During a Ghana News Agency (GNA) visit to some schools around 7 a.m., most basic schools in the municipality had mounted Veronica buckets to help with hand washing with soap underwater routine by pupils and students, staff and visitors.
Private security guards hired by school authorities were sighted, ensuring that all pupils and students put on their noses or face masks before being allowed to enter the school grounds.
At Sunyani High School, which has a model elementary school, parents and their children who did not wear a nasal mask were refused entry into the school grounds.
The security desks at the school gate did not allow taxi drivers without a nasal or face mask to enter.
A security guard told the GNA on condition of anonymity that the school authority ordered them not to allow any students to enter the compound without a nasal mask and hand sanitizer.
The situation was no different at St Patrick’s, Wesley Cathedral and Nyamaa Primary and Junior High Schools.
Virtually all of the school children had their nasal masks on, but many did not have hand sanitizer when the RNG interacted with them.
In the meantime, some parents have welcomed the measures put in place by school authorities, saying they will help stem the spread of the pandemic among schoolchildren.
“I provided my three children with two nasal masks each and a hand sanitizer,” said Ms. Leticia Amponsah Gyan, a parent at GNA.
Mr Kofi Agyekum, a taxi driver and parent who was seen at St Patrick’s Primary and JHS gate, said he was optimistic that with the measures in place, school children would be safe in the school environment.
He noted, however, that not all parents could afford to provide nasal masks and hand sanitizers to their children and called on the government to provide these items to all basic schools.
Calling the new wave of infections disturbing, Ms. Justina Owusu-Banahene, Municipal Director General of Sunyani (MCE), warned residents who did not wear nasal or face masks in public places and gatherings that they would not be not spared.
She said the Assembly would strictly enforce social distancing protocols and hand washing with soap under running water in markets, bus stations, churches and mosques, as well as closing all mailboxes. night of the municipality.
“The current trend of COVID-19 in the country is a shame and the Assembly would do everything possible to ensure that the cases are brought under control in the municipality”, assured the MCE.
Ms. Owusu-Banahene stressed that concerted efforts are needed if the nation can be successful in the fight against COVID-19, and called on traditional authorities, religious bodies, corporate institutions and civil society organizations to join actively in the countryside to stop its spread.
She reiterated the important role of the media in stemming the spread of the pandemic and in particular called on the various FM radio stations to help intensify public education so that the people understand, appreciate and support the government’s efforts in fight against disease.
Mrs Owusu-Banahene added that strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols remained the safest remedy to control the spread of new infections and expressed hope that everyone would comply with the protocols.
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