Coronavirus: Be cautious before lifting partial lockdown - Dr. Agyarko

Robert Kwame deGraft Agyarko, a lead Advisor on Outbreaks and Epidemics of South Africa-based Africa Risk Capacity (ARC), is advocating the planning and implementation of some strong measures before the partial lockdown in some parts of Ghana is finally lifted.

As part of measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, a two-week lockdown was declared by the government.

In a recent address to the nation, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo extended the partial lockdown by one more week.

Some were hopeful that the lockdown will be lifted since it's having a huge impact on the vulnerable.

Speaking to this on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Mr Agyarko urged that strong measures must be put in place before the lockdown is lifted otherwise there will be an upsurge of infections.

"...when partial lockdowns are lifted and care is not taken, there can be an upsurge of infections and so government must study the trend and ensure that everything is under control before going ahead (to lift restrictions)..." he counselled.

Kwame deGraft Agyarko has 18 years of international experience working in development and public health, including management and coordination roles in national and international organisations.

These include, working for WHO on the Impact of HIV/AIDS on older persons (1999-2003, based in Geneva), Coordinator in WHO AFRO’s Regional Malaria technical support team (2003-2007, based in Zimbabwe); portfolio Manager for South Africa and Namibia (2007-2009, based in Geneva) at the Global Fund; West and Central Africa Malaria Advisor (2009-2010, based in Dakar) at UNICEF.

In 2015, he served as the Technical Advisor to the Incident Commander and Coordinator of the Ghana Public Health Emergency Operations Center.

Listen to the discussion in the video below