Editorial News of Monday, 23 March 2020

Source: Business & Financial Times

B&FT: Thankfully, no Ghanaian was infected in China during the height of coronavirus

File Photo File Photo

Although more than 80,000 people were infected by the virus with about 3,200 deaths in China when the deadly COVID-19 surfaced, no Ghanaian in China was affected by the novel COVID-19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Edward Boateng, disclosed last week.

Government’s decision not to not evacuate Ghanaian students in China despite calls by some of the students and their parents was heavily criticized, but in the long run it proved to be the most prudent course. Therefore, Ambassador Edward Boateng believes the president’s decision to stick with the advice given him by the Chinese counterparts has vindicated him.

We are glad to hear that no Ghanaian was infected when the virus was at its peak in China, and it also shows the measures adopted by that country to contain the virus prove to have worked well for the populous country – to the extent that no recent cases have been recorded in China, and consequently it has to close down the facility built purposely for tackling the virus.

Government however sent in monies and food items to the students to support their upkeep, which proved to be a better option; and today Ghanaian students and residents in China are all the better for the decision taken by the government.

We commend government for being steadfast in its position, and that it has turned out to be the right decision considering the fact that the few cases identified in the country were brought here through the people who came from countries which have been plagued by COVID-19, such as Europeans ones.

China’s prevention and control efforts have made important progress. More than 87% of the 80,000 confirmed cases have recorded and been discharged. Enterprises in different regions are back to work in a well-organised way.

Now the afflicted countries of Europe and the USA can now borrow a leaf from China and apply some of its methods in the bid to contain this deadly virus.