The Medical Superintendent at Ga-East Municipal Hospital, one of the frontline hospitals treating coronavirus patients in the country, Dr Ebenezer Oduro Mensah has cautioned Ghanaians against taking the pandemic lightly.

According to him, as a frontliner, and from the patients’ experience, the virus is real, and for that matter, Ghanaians should desist from downplaying the impact on one’s life after contracting the disease.

“COVID-19 exists, a lot of people have been infected with it, and we have unfortunately lost loved ones who would have been alive if not for the virus. Let’s not joke with it, it is real. We should focus on prevention and stay alive,” he said.

Speaking to The Spectator, he appealed to Ghanaians to adhere to the directive to wear face masks to help stop the spread because it is crucial in the combat against the deadly virus.

“When you wear the face mask and you are infected with COVID-19, the likelihood that you will spread the virus is significantly minimised,” he said.

Explaining further, he said, Ghanaians should always remember that the main mode of spread is when one coughs, sneezes, talks or sings, and droplets come out of the mouth or nostrils into the environment.

“Once you are wearing face mask, it is less likely you will spread these droplets to infect others by landing on the face. We should always use our mask once we are out,” he added.

Dr Mensah, said, to overcome the novel virus, Ghanaians should adhere to the protocols, to stay home, avoid crowded areas, wear nose mask, use hand sanitiser and observe personal hygiene among others.

These, he said reduced the risk of contracting the disease, for one to be on the safer side.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme