Every one must be careful with COVID-19 scare

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has now declared the COVID-19 viral disease a pandemic.

This is because the disease has gone viral, swept into at least 114 countries and killed more than 4,000 people.

It is the first time the WHO has called an outbreak a pandemic since the H1N1 "swine flu" in 2009.

According to the organisation, some eight or so countries are now each reporting more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus that has infected nearly 120,000 people worldwide.

In the past few weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has also increased 13-fold and the number of affected countries has tripled.

From what is happening across the globe, we are deeply concerned and need to ring the alarm bells much louder.

It is incumbent on all nations to raise their health emergency preparedness to its highest level and pursue actions deemed necessary to stop the disease.

Although Ghana has not recorded any incident of the virus, it is assuring to note that some prudent measures are being taken to ensure that its citizens are free and safe from getting the disease.

As part of the stringent measures, President Akufo-Addo last Wednesday announced a temporary travel ban for all public officials. Additionally, the government has released US$100 (GHc553m) to enhance the country’s preparedness and response plan towards the prevention of COVID-19.

This is to finance the expansion of infrastructure, purchase materials and equipment, as well as conduct extensive public education.

Yesterday, the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, advised parliamentarians to avoid shaking hands to prevent the transmission of the virus.

Additionally, the country is putting in place measures at its entry points, including the Kotoka International Airport and the land borders, to detect persons with the disease, as well as designating hospitals for the management, control and prevention of the disease.

Notwithstanding these national efforts, we at the Daily Graphic are of the view that nothing can be left to chance in dealing with the disease and its global spread.

Clearly, from what is happening across the globe, individual citizens cannot remain passive but must get involved to stay safe and take urgent actions to contain the pandemic.

Even as hope remains that the COVID-19 can be curtailed, no individual effort must be spared to stay safe and secure from the disease.

For instance, we would like to reiterate the fact that to protect oneself and others from COVID-19 and its spread, there is the need for people to adhere to basic sanitary habits, including regular washing of hands, sanitising them when you do not have soap and water, avoiding the touching of face whenever possible, coughing into sleeve, among others.

Furthermore, as suggested by the WHO, it will be prudent to cover one’s mouth whenever one coughs and one’s nose when one sneezes (ideally with a tissue that can be thrown away).

The WHO also recommends the need to wear face masks only if one is sick or caring for someone who is sick, otherwise people should leave the face masks for medical professionals, caretakers and people with compromised immune systems.

Also, we must stay away from people who are sick and avoid non-essential international travels.

It is great to observe that lately many people in the country are avoiding the shaking of hands, which is a Ghanaian cultural practice.

For us at the Daily Graphic, the outbreak of COVID-19 requires global cooperation. Many countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled, but we are of the opinion that it is only when the world comes together in a common fight to deal with the global crisis can we all be free from the scare.