Buy mask for the poor – Health Minister

Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, has encouraged the well-to-do individuals in society to help buy face masks for those who cannot afford as the wearing of these masks is critical to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

He said wearing a face mask had become mandatory in the country and therefore it was important to support those who on their own could not buy.

“Let us support each other - that has been the Ghanaian culture", the Minister added.

Mr. Agyeman-Manu was speaking at a media briefing held by the Information Ministry to provide an update on the situation of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country.

He said the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) had been registering companies to produce the masks because not all materials could be used.

The producers had been provided with guidelines for manufacturing and standards.

He said the severe respiratory disease –COVID-19, was going to be “with us” for some time and that was why, the wearing of mask by everybody to protect themselves and the others, had become vital.

The masks being produced locally are reusable and available everywhere. After you come back from town wash, disinfect, dry and iron before wearing it again.

This, he said, was going to be the new normal and the magic to cut the spread of the flu-like coronavirus infection.

"Wherever two or three meets let there be a mask," he counseled.