On 31st December 2019, a new virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome

coronavirus 2(SARS.CoV-2) was identified as the major cause of a disease outbreak that

originated from Wuhan, a port city in the Hubei province of 11 million people in China. Many

lost their lives excruciatingly due to the torrential attack of the virus. The disease spread rapidly

to all continents of the world which Africa is not an exception. On 14th February 2020, Egypt

became the first African country to confirm the first case of the virus. Here in Ghana, the first

two cases were confirmed on 12th March 2020 when two people who returned from Norway and

Turkey respectively were confirmed positive for the virus. In order to save the lives of Ghanaians

and ensure that the virus did not have adverse and perverse economic impacts on Ghana, the

president of the republic of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo (15th March 2020)

announced some measures to contain the virus after six people tested positive for the virus. In his

address to the nation, he stated emphatically among others that he had held a meeting with the

inter-ministerial committee on coronavirus pandemic and came out with the following

resolutions.

Firstly, all public gatherings including religious events in churches and mosques had

been suspended to further notice. All universities, S.H.S and basic schools were closed down

from 16th March, 2020 to prevent people from congregating in close proximity which will result

in infections of many.

In further attempts to contain the virus, the Daily graphics published it unequivocally on

23rd March 2020 that markets in Accra and Tema were disinfected to prevent the spread of the

virus and at the same time, beaches were closed down in Ghana. President Akufo Addo in his

address to the nation at 11pm on 28th March 2020 on measures taken by government to combat

the ravages of the virus declared among others "partial lockdown of Accra, Tema, Kasoa and
Kumasi for two weeks to enable health experts to undertake contact tracing exercises." Focus

FM.

On 29th March,2020 city Newsroom alerted Ghana of the statement by the health

minister in fighting the coronavirus. The health minister said among others" Quarantine center

was set up in Tamale and drones were used to transport blood samples to the center for testing."

The Noguchi Medical Research Institute, University for Health and Allied Sciences campus were

also designated to be used as place for testing the blood sample and the Pentecost convention

center have been given as the isolation center.

In addition to stop the virus destroying lives, the World Health Organization encouraged

these preventive measures: there must be regular washing of hands for 20seconds with soap

under running water or alcohol-based sanitizer. The nose and mouth must be covered with a

disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze. Social distancing protocols must be

observed by all i.e., we must not be in close proximity with infected persons or everybody in

general.

In furtherance of this,198 markets in Eastern region were disinfected. Graphic online. 4th

April, 2020.