Coronavirus: Distribute face masks to public for free – Council of State urges govt

Following the surge in COVID-19 cases in Ghana, the Council of State is urging the government to distribute free nose masks to every household.

The advisory body at the presidency made this call during a meeting with President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday.

The Council said such a move will help greatly in the fight against the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Already, the World Health Organisation has recommended the use of face masks, especially in public.

The Chairman of the Council of State, Nana Otuo Sribuo II said the government must consider the free distribution of face masks to the populace to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

“The fact that all Council of State members are donning face masks is an indication that the wearing of face masks have become part of the regime of prevention. We have to accept that this would also mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

Nana Otuo Sribuo II added that, “as much as we appreciate the integrity and the good intentions of the trustees of the COVID-19 Trust Fund, if we could suggest having the face masks sewn in millions so that every Ghanaian could have the benefit of the face mask and wear it,” he said.

Operation ‘wear nose mask’ in full force in Ashanti Region

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Security Council will from Wednesday, April 22, embark on an operation to ensure residents of Greater Kumasi and its environs, wear nose masks as a measure to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, said his outfit has observed that residents do no wear the protective gear, which could endanger their lives.

He noted that security personnel will be deployed to various venues to ensure that all precautionary measures are adhered to, particularly social distancing and the wearing of nose masks despite the lifting of the lockdown.

“Everybody should be able to acquire the face mask by the close of today [Tuesday], because from tomorrow if we see you without face mask in public places, we will ask you to go home.

“Until you have the face mask, you can’t step out and especially in the market areas, and areas where we have large crowds”, he told Accra-based Joy FM.

This initiative is in response to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s advise to all Ghanaians to always wear nose masks and regularly practice the safety protocols, following the lifting of the three-week lockdown in some parts of the country.

“I want to encourage everyone, to wear a mask, wherever you go as it will help, not to contract the virus,” the President said when addressing the nation on Sunday.