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Virologist asks govt to institute localised lockdown

A virologist at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Dr Michael Owusu,  has asked the government to institute localised lockdowns in COVID-19 hotspots across the country.

He noted that the virus was running ahead of the nation and the only way to prevent the health system from being completely overwhelmed was to impose restrictions since the country’s state in relation to the pandemic was not as being reflected from the government.

Commenting on the development, Dr Owusu cautioned that “the figures have become a cause for concern as many fear issues may spiral out of control and if drastic and critical steps are not taken immediately to stop the rapid infection rate, a catastrophe will soon hit the country and issues will get out of hand”.

The virologist insisted that the government has to restrict the movement of persons to stem the infection rate and he believes that is the only sure way of reducing the rate of infections as there were people who had tested positive but were still going about their daily activities.

“I know people who are positive but still going to work, if a lockdown is imposed they will have no option than to stay home, if this is not done and more people, including health workers get infected and die, it can lead to the country being swamped by the virus since morale in health workers can be affected,” Dr Owusu warned.

Contributing to the discussion, Dr Ernest Yorke, the President of the Greater Accra Chapter of the Ghana Medical Association bemoaned the government’s painting a picture of everything being rosy when it was not saying “Ghana stands a chance of losing everything if the direction is not changed in COVID-19 management in our country and I also support the call of a localised lockdown.

“The government will, however, want to weigh the social and political impact of such a measure before going for it but am sure if a decisive move is not taken soon, the country will lose all gains made so far,” he cautioned.

The government has fought off claims that the figures are being massaged to create a good picture. -myjoyonline.com

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