Stop fake news spread on COVID-19

As of the close of day yesterday, the country had recorded six cases of COVID-19, out of the 100 suspected infections.

This is a rise from the two earlier reported and must be enough reason for everyone to show deep concern.

In this show of concern, however, we note that there is a lot of information circulating on the deadly virus.

While some aspects of this information may be accurate, dependable and helpful, we note with greater concern that a lot more is based on pure speculation, conjecturing and outright lies.

This is where the Daily Graphic would urge caution in the dissemination of news revolving around the global scare — the COVID-19.

Fortunately for Ghana, the government and its respective agencies have not been complacent, even at a time when the country hadn’t recorded any such unfortunate news.

Before the end of last week, the government had released US$100 million (GHc533 million) to ensure Ghana’s readiness and preparedness in preventing the deadly virus in case the country came face to face with it.

It that case, nothing must be done, by way of misinformation, to dilute efforts at making sure that the country is safe and secure from the spread of COVID-19.

It is worrying that some people have even gone to the extent of believing that COVID-19 only affects White people and that the virus cannot even survive in the tropical environment, among others.

From the explanation given by the health authorities, this is complete falsehood, as the spread has nothing to do with colour, race, gender or religion.

The virus has everything to do with adhering to safety measures prescribed by health authorities, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the ministries of Health, Information and Education and other identifiable stakeholder communities, including the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

For this reason, the Daily Graphic would like to remind the citizenry of the need to abide by the various safety measures suggested, including the advice that all travels to Ghana be strongly discouraged until further notice, while any admissible traveller who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 should be quarantined and tested on arriving in Ghana.

We also wish to draw attention to the advice that any traveller, except for Ghanaian citizens and persons with Ghana resident permits, who, within the last 14 days, has been to a country that has recorded at least 200 cases of COVID-19 be not admitted into the Ghanaian jurisdiction.

The paper would also like to remind the people of Ghana about the measure that there will be a mandatory 14-day quarantine for persons who are otherwise allowed to enter the Ghanaian jurisdiction, guidelines for self-quarantine which will be available at the various Ghanaian ports of entry, as well as the enforcement of the protocols being deployed in collaboration with state security and health authorities.

We also wish to stress the travel advice that persons who are unable to satisfactorily quarantine themselves will be quarantined by the state.

At this point in time, we need calmness, cool heads and good safety health practices. This is not the time for fear and panic reactions.

In recommending cool heads and calmness, we share in the advice by health experts that people should not allow their thoughts to spiral out of control but rather focus on their daily obligations and add some fun to their days to keep anxiety to a minimum.

We should read favourite or interesting novels, watch nice movies or solve puzzles.

The Daily Graphic believes that as a nation if we strictly follow the rules of engagement, nothing untoward will happen to us as citizens.

We need to cooperate with the health authorities now more than ever before as we navigate through this global challenge.

Preventing, containing and overcoming the spread of COVID-19 is doable; it only needs all hands on deck.