Ghanaian medical group urges restrictions on social activities amid COVID-19 case spike

ACCRA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A long-established medical association in Ghana on Monday here urged the government to place restrictions on a list of social activities amid the COVID-19 case spike.

"The government should as a matter of urgency restrict social activities such as parties, church services, funerals, clubs, and other social gatherings of such nature," said the Ghana Medical Association, which was inaugurated in 1958 and has over 3,000 members now, in a statement.

"The non-adherence to the COVID-19 preventive measures has the potential to further escalate the spread of the disease," it said, adding that COVID-19 is still a major health threat to the country and has the potential to further weaken the fragile health system.

It appealed to suppliers and vendors of personal protective equipment not to take advantage of the increasing demand amid the COVID-19 surge and drive up prices as that would be inimical to the anti-virus fight.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ghana have exceeded 60,000 and active ones topped 3,000. Facing the case spike, the government has deployed security personnel to carry out random checks to ensure the public adherence to safety protocols.