Major Points In Akufo Addo's 21st Address On Measures Taken Against Covid-19

The President of Ghana,Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo,was expected to update the nation on measures taken to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus in our country on Sunday, 3rd January 2021,at exactly 8:00pm. 

Below is the Summary of the 21st update. 

1. Since the announcement, on Wednesday, 11th March 2020,of the first set of restrictions against the spread of the virus,a number of them have,since,been eased and others are still in force. 

2. As of Jan 1,the number of Active cases are 879,with 54,005 recoveries, 18 severely I'll but no critical cases. That is out of 674,812 tests with 55,220 positive cases. 

3. Thus far,Ghana has not detected any cade of the new variant of the virus. 

4. Government in consultation with the appropriate stakeholders, will continue to pursue a strategic controlled, progressive, safe easing of restrictions in all public and private schools, junior high,senior high,and tertiary institutions across the country,beginning this month of January. 

5. From Jan 15,children in Kindergarten, primary and junior high,in both private and public schools will be back in school. 

6. All SHS 1 students will start classes from March 10th with a single track academic calendar. SHS 2 and 3 will however, return to school from 18th January. 

7. SHS 3 students in all schools,like SHS 1 students,will no longer run the double track system due to the expansion of infrastructure at the various SHSs over the last 3years. Meanwhile, SHS 2 students will run under the double truck system.

8. Students in Tertiary institutions are to be in school from Saturday, 9th January. 

9. Government through the Ministry of Education Service,will ensure that all institutions, public and private, are fumigated and disinfected. 

10. Schools and institutions with their own hospitals and clinics, which have been already mapped to health facilities, will be equipped with the necessary personal protective equipments,and have isolation centres to deal with any positive cases. 

11. There will be no mass gathering and no sporting activities. However, religious activities for students at school,under the new protocols, will be permitted. 

12. Government will provide face masks,Veronica buckets,hand sanitizers,liquid soap,rolls of tissue paper,the thermometer guns for the safe reopening of schools. 

13. As of January 1,2021, a total of 712 positive cases, out of 118,278 tests conducted, have been recorded at the Kotoka International Airport. Positivity rate among international arrivals rose from 0.26% in September to 0.93% in December 2020. 

14. The following measures will be implemented, in addition to the existing guidelines on international travel fr covid-19 ,in Ghana. 

> all arriving passengers who test positive for covid-19,asymptomatic or not,will undergo mandatory isolation and treatment at a designated health facility or isolation centre. The isolation will be for a period of 7 days at the cost of Government. However, the final discharge of cases will be based on existing case management guidelines and protocols. 

> all passengers who are in isolation will undergo a repeat Covid-19 test within 24hours of arrival,with the cost also borne by Government. This test will also include genomic sequencing for Covid-19; and all passengers who test negative for Covid-19 will be required to adhere continuously to Covid-19 safety protocols, and will receive regular information on Covid-19 within 5days of arrival in Ghana. 

15. Beaches, pubs,cinemas,and nightclubs are to be closed until further notice. 

16. Government's decision to absorb electricity and water bills will continue until the end of the next 3months.ie. January, February, and March.