The Northern Regional Security Council(REGSEC) has banned commercial sex work in the Tamale metropolis after the region recorded 10 cases of the deadly coronavirus.

The action of the REGSEC was triggered by reports of the coronavirus patient who escaped from quarantine days ago at a facility in Tamale in the Northern Region.

The young lady who’s part of the 10 persons who tested positive for the virus and were being held in isolation reportedly escaped on the blind side of the police/Military team detailed to ensure security within the facility.

A statement signed by the Minister, Salifu Saeed with regards to the ban said the development “is a wake-up call to all of us to abide by all directives issued to contain COVID-19”.

The statement pointed out that the 10 COVID-19 patients confirmed in the Northern Region were known to be sex workers and hence, their activities will endanger locals vis a vis the spread of the virus.

“I know sometimes it is difficult to tell people not to engage in this activity, but in this period of Coronavirus that we are preaching that people should ensure social distance, we have come to realize that there are a lot of the people who have put themselves under the cover of darkness within the capital of Tamale and some parts of the region and doing prostitution,” he said.

He added: “If you look at the confirmed victims of Coronavirus, some of them are prostitutes. They have been fished out from those locations and I am using it as a basis to ban prostitution in Northern Region. So, on this note, I am pleading with you, especially with the young men and young ladies [that]. We know that sometimes you want to satisfy your desire in one way or the other but at this critical moment, everybody is hot in this region and the country. I am pleading, people should fear God, fear the almighty Allah, our Lord Jesus Christ and stop this prostitution.”