Coronavirus: 'Panic is helpful, we need a healthy dose of it' - Kwesi Pratt

As at April 1, 2020, Thirty-four (34) new cases of COVID-19 have been reported from Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) since the last update on 31st March 2020.

This brings up to a total of 195 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ghana, including five (5) deaths.

The numbers seem overwhelming but Presidential Health Advisor, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare says Ghanaians should not panic over the surge in the cases of COVID-19.

He assured that the government is on top of issues and will do everything to curb the virus infection.

But speaking with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s 'Kokrokoo' program on Tuesday, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. disagreed with Dr. Nsiah-Asare's remarks that there should be no cause for alarm.

Mr. Pratt believes the "panic is necessary" to drive awareness of the virus into the citizenry.

He stated that despite the partial lockdown by President Akufo-Addo, many Ghanaians are still found outside for whatever reason and this should be very worrying.

He was of a strong view that some Ghanaians do not see the gravity of the situation, hence trivialize the issue.

He opined that one of the reasons why there is this category of Ghanaians is because of statements that no person should panic but, to him, “the panic is sometimes helpful. You need a certain dose of panic’’.