Lockdown could return if coronavirus measures are flouted – Virologist

Ghana could enter a period of intense lockdown if the public fails to abide by anti-coronavirus regulations, Virologist at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Dr Michael Owusu, has said.

Dr Owusu foresees an even more extensive lockdown by the government if more cases are recorded due to violations of coronavirus protocols.

Under such circumstances, which push the coronavirus cases upward considerably, lockdown will be an option.

His comments follow the lifting of initial three-week restrictions imposed by the government effective Monday, April 20.

“If people don’t adhere to the measures, within the next couple of weeks I will never be surprised if we are to call for a more massive lockdown across a large part of the country,” he told JoyNews.

According to his assessment, “The virus will stay with us for a long time, but you cannot lockdown for a long time”.

However, he added, “No country can lockdown for several months.”

He, therefore, advocated intensified efforts to identify infections, conduct contact tracing and securely hold patients who had tested positive for treatment.

“Surveillance measures so that when you begin to see a spike, you move in quickly and begin to lock down again”.

Dr Owusu emphasised the need for security to be placed at vantage points to “ensure that people abide by the regulations.”

The President maintained the directive on social distancing in place, but added compulsory wearing of face masks to filter droplets and aerosols, which serve as a transmission medium.

Without the appropriate mask and other personal protection kits, movements should be disallowed, he said, adding that shops without infrared thermometer guns to check the temperature of clients before entry should be shut.

The country has registered 1024 cases. Out of the number,  99 have recovered and nine people dead.