The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) as part of efforts to ensure the safe management of COVID 19 cases in the city has announced plans to construct a two-storey isolation centre at Kaneshie Polyclinic.

Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah disclosed this in his sessional address at the first ordinary meeting of the first session of the 7th Assembly.

” The Assembly has dedicated some funds for the construction of 2 storey isolation centre to safely manage COVID 19 cases. Procurement processes are ongoing and work is scheduled to commence in July 2020,” he said.

He intimated that Accra has remained a hotspot of COVID-19 cases and the majority of the population living in informal settlements, the government was providing the needed support required to marshal resources and expertise to fight the disease since the first case was recorded in March.

Mayor Sowah also said the assembly received support from various state and private organisations including GCB Bank, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), Old Mutual Limited, European Union(EU) as well as the Districts Assemblies Common Fund(DACF) which were subsequently distributed to various institutions and frontline workers such as the Kaneshie, Ussher and Mamprobi polyclinics, Princess Marie Children Hospital, Ga Traditional Council, Gbese and Ngleshie palace, markets as well as transport terminals.

These items he said included Veronica buckets, washing bowls, liquid soap, sanitizers, tissue papers, poly tanks, washing stations, infrared thermometer guns, face mask, gloves, eye shield and public addressing systems.

Mayor Sowah expressed concerns over how people leave their homes without face masks and attributed the increase in cases in the city to the practice.

“It is an offense to leave your home to public spaces without a mask. Most people have let their guards down and are taking the disease for granted,”

He urged all and sundry to continue to wear face masks and practice physical and social distancing and all other safety protocols.