The Achiase District Assembly has distributed 3000 nose masks to the mentally challenged, drivers and their mates and market women in the area. The distribution follows the president’s directive of mandatory wearing of masks as part of measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.
The Ghana Health service (GHS), explaining the president’s directive, further directed the compulsory wearing of nose masks in public places. Thus, wearing of nose masks was made mandatory for traders, food vendors, commercial vehicle drivers, commuters on public transports, persons in public and commercial centres, and facilities and buildings, including but not limited to offices, bars, workshops, restaurants, sports arenas, spas, salons, shopping malls, clinics, hospitals, and all others, whether privately or publicly owned.
Mentally challenged
District Chief Executive (DCE) for Achiase, Richmond Agyabeng Amponsah, said they had to include the mentally challenged following reports that some of them have tested positive for Covid-19.
A mentally challenged woman at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital last week tested positive for the disease. The hospital admitted the woman on April 20 2020, and she developed symptoms a few days later. She was later tested for COVID-19 and transferred to an isolation unit on April 23. On April 27, her test results confirmed positive for the virulent disease.
So far, the Achiase District has not recorded any case. However, Mr Amponsah has urged all Ghanaians, especially those in the district, to adhere to all the safety protocols in combating the disease. “This too shall pass and Achiase will be free,” he reiterated President Akufo-Addo’s philosophical phrase in fighting the pandemic.