COVID-19; Wearing of face mask Non-existent in Elmina

Wearing of the face mask is virtually non-existent in Elmina.

The people are living, as if they have not heard of the novel coronavirus. They are not adhering to the directives of President Akufo-Addo on the wearing of face mask.

A visit by the News Cencord Team, revealed that almost everybody in Elmina is not wearing the face mask and they were also not observing the social distancing protocols between them, as advised by the World Health Organisation. Life is so normal for both young and the aged.

Sadly, when the team asked few of the people why they were not wearing the mask, their answers were that coronavirus, nicknamed COVID-19, only attacks the rich and as a consequence they have no money so there cannot be coronavirus in Elmina.

The most painful and unpardonable defence or flimsy excuses given by some of them, was that, they do not even know what we were asking them about and were wondering what kind of disease we were talking about as they appear to suggest that they have not heard of the virus.

Moreover, a pregnant woman, we asked, why she was not wearing the mask told us that when she wears it, she cannot breathe well and makes her pressure go up.

The traders and buyers at the market were not wearing the masks either, including those selling on the road side close to the market. It was a normal day as if nothing is happening in the country in a clear disregard to everything we have been told by the experts.

Agreed that the people are poor and have not heard of the virus, but there can be no justification for the ignorance of the people.

We are disappointed at the Regional Co-coordinating Council, the National Commission for Civic Education in the region, the Information Services Department, the Media and the opinion leaders in the region, for failing to educate the people on the outbreak of the pandemic.

More on Coronavirus

https://newscencord.org/china-notified-who-of-coronavirus/

Elmina is predominantly a fishing community with about 33,576 people. It is the capital of the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem popularly known as KEEA.

More about Elmina

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmina

The total confirmed cases recorded as at today, Wednesday June 10, 2020 is 10,201 with 48 deaths.

The President in his 10^th broadcast to the nation was emphatic of enforcement of wearing of the face mask, but we are wondering, if the people of Elmina is not part of it.

We are of the considered opinion that, there must be a serious enforcement by deploring police personnel to enforce the protocols and the directives of the President especially the wearing of the face mask which is non-existent in Elmina, else we are afraid of escalation of covid-19 if someone should get it.