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There is growing concern among the public in Koforidua that a blatant disregard for covid-19 protocols may worsen the increase in cases in the eastern regional capital.
With the exception of areas like banks and the offices of telecom companies, where social distancing, hand washing, wearing face masks and controlling temperatures are strictly enforced, many public places have let their guard down.
A visit by the Ghana News Agency to the municipalities of New Juaben South and North showed the general public’s contempt for COVID-19 preventive protocols in markets and truck fleets.
Passengers boarding public vehicles were without nasal masks while hawkers doing successful business did not bother wearing masks or observing social distancing protocols.
Meanwhile, traders and hawkers, who did not have nasal masks, could be heard screaming at the top of their lungs to draw public attention to their wares.
The situation was no different in barber shops and barbershops, as clients and apprentices were seen chatting heartily and laughing without masks and without social or physical distancing.
There was also general laxity in government departments and agencies as some of them in government departments only set up hand washing stalls without soap and water.
GNA audits in New Juaben North and South municipalities also confirmed that funeral and wedding receptions were underway as well as other social gatherings with little to no observance of protocols.
Most people expressed concern over the situation and therefore called for the application of protocols, especially the wearing of masks and social distancing in markets and truck fleets.
Women in the market said the congregation provided hand washing facilities, but recently stopped doing so.
A station officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the GNA that they had stopped enforcing the protocols, especially the wearing of face masks due to non-enforcement by government agencies.
The officer noted that at first there was a full app as the police often doing random face mask checks on the roads, “but now everyone has relaxed so we can’t afford to refuse the passengers so as not to wear the mask otherwise we would lose because the transport unions are numerous and in competition. “
The officer added that they were also concerned about the situation as there was a spike in cases and therefore appealed for the application of the protocols.
Ms Joyce Tay, an official, said the situation called for a full application of protocols to ensure people comply with public safety protocols and called for strict compliance at salons and barber shops.
“For a few weeks now, I haven’t visited the salon because I am afraid of contracting the virus by watching the situation and I think the authorities should look at salons and barbershops as they could be sources of infection.”
The Eastern region registered about 2,555 cases between January and the first week of August with all 33 municipalities and administrative districts, which had so far not registered any cases, registering cases.
Almost 31,000 people, including health workers, have been vaccinated so far in the region.
Meanwhile, Mr. Seth Acheampong, Eastern Regional Minister and Chairman of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency Committee, called on 33 city and district assemblies to apply preventive protocols.
This followed a call from Dr Winfred Ofosu, Eastern Regional Health Director, for an emergency strategy to ensure adherence to protocols to reduce the current outbreak of cases.
He warned that the daily average of covid-19 cases recorded in the region has risen dramatically and if the trend continues, it will overwhelm facilities and healthcare systems.
He described the blatant disregard for preventive protocols, particularly the wearing of masks and social distancing as a threat to containment efforts and a huge concern for the health sector.
Meanwhile, the regional minister confirmed that nightclubs and pubs blatantly disobeyed protocols and were operating normally.
He said the Regional Security Committee would not hesitate to ask security agencies to apply public security protocols.
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