Coronavirus: Remain calm although our cases keep increasing - Mahama to Ghanaians

Former President John Dramani Mahama has called for calm among Ghanaians despite the increase in our recorded cases of the deadly coronavirus.

Mr. Mahama opined that although the numbers have increased and is creating panic, Ghanaians should remain calm.

"The increasing number of confirmed cases – 136 as of this morning – and the fear being expressed by our medical personnel of possible community-spread has led to a sense of panic among many of our people".

That is understandable, but "I want to encourage us in this situation to remain calm as the authorities think through the best means to contain this disease.”

He called on the government to work extra hard to ensure the implementation of adequate community mitigation measures in addition to a concerted effort to provide regular, accurate and timely information.

”We also need to urgently strengthen the public health management procedures, and provide the needed resources and logistics for managing the pandemic. This is critical if our frontline healthcare workers are to have the confidence to continue to battle the disease,” he added.

He stressed the need for Ghanaians to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus.

"Let’s heed the call to stay at home, avoid crowded places and remember to wash your hands with soap and under running water as frequently as you can. Continue to maintain a safe distance from any person who is coughing or sneezing, or from anyone showing any other symptoms of a cold or flu.

Also, cover your own mouth and nose with a tissue if you have to cough or sneeze. It is important that you discard the tissue properly and wash your hands immediately. Maintain the appropriate social distance with other people of at least 1.5 metres.”

He said: "Let us continue to remind ourselves as individuals, business persons, religious leaders, religious organisations, political actors and government that we have a country to protect, we have our fellow Ghanaians to protect. We all have a role to play, not just government. In these times the best remedy to stopping the spread and from getting infected is staying home if you have nothing essential doing out of home.”

Former President Mahama made the call at the Friday Muslim Prayers on March 27, 2020.