Government to make nose masks available for all - Minister

Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, has said Government has selected five local companies to produce 3.6 million nose masks with 15,000 to be supplied daily.

This, he said, would increase the availability of the preventive device for safety, especially for health workers.

This follows the report of lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by health facilities which are putting health workers at risk.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said this on Tuesday whiles giving an update of the COVID-19 case management situation, in Accra.

He said the five companies that have been tasked for the production of the nose masks are expected to make it available within 10 days.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said considering that wearing the nose masks has been encouraged as one of the ways to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, it is necessary that more equipment is made available.

The Minister said the government is putting in place more measures to ensure that all were protected.

He urged the public to continue observing the safety and hygiene protocols - ensuring the frequent washing of hands with soap under running water; covering one's mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing with disposable tissues; using alcohol-based hand sanitizers; avoiding contact with wild animals and maintaining social distance of at least two metres.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said all the measures and interventions, the President has highlighted, are intended to achieve five strategic objectives: limit and stop the importation of the virus; detect and contain the spread of the virus; enhance contact tracing and testing of the virus; care for the sick; minimize the impact on economic and social lives and boost the domestic capability and deepen national self-reliance.