Actor Joe Shortingo attacked for making ‘baseless’ comments about coronavirus

Renowned radio personality Andy Dosty has slammed Joe Shortingo following some ‘despicable’ comments the diminutive actor uttered about the deadly Coronavirus which has plunged the world into darkness.

Joe Shortingo, 33, had in an interview pooh-poohed reports that Ghana had recorded some cases of Coronavirus. Although the confirmation came from the Ghana Health Service, the actor, expected to know better, described as ‘false’ and refused to accept reports of an existing pandemic which has wiped out lives.

“It’s not true Ghana has recorded confirmed cases. They’re just creating unnecessary fear and panic. I can travel to China and nothing will happen to me,” the actor said.

His comment, according to Andy Dosty, host of Hitz FM's morning show 'Daybreak Hitz', is extremely distasteful and should not be encouraged.

“What’s wrong with you?” the popular disc jockey bluntly jabbed on his show, Wednesday. “You make such baseless statement… Really? We joke too much. This is no time for such cheap jokes.”

Declared pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), Coronavirus has killed more than 7,000 people, sickened over 200,000 and spread to 75 countries and regions worldwide.

Ghana is currently faced with seven confirmed cases of the widespread virus, with over 350 people having had contact with the affected persons being observed.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 15, 2020, issued a directive that all outdoor events including funerals, church activities and naming ceremonies, be suspended.

Schools have also been asked to close down for a period of 4 weeks.

These, according to Akufo-Addo, forms part of precautionary measures to fight the virus and prevent any more spread after the 7 confirmed cases in Ghana.