As Ghana records its 9th case of the deadly coronavirus, Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has called on its members to stay woke by practicing the necessary precautionary measures outlined by the association and reiterated by President Akufo-Addo in his address to the nation four days ago.

This the union says will help protect both themselves and their customers as the virus is fast spreading.

According to the Association's President, Dr Joseph Obeng, traders are required to make available running water in ‘veronica bucket-like’ containers in front of their shops for customers to wash their hands before entering their shops or even touch a product they want to buy.

Also, these traders are to make available hand sanitisers for customers to apply before and after they make their purchases.

“We have already sent the necessary precautionary measures to them to abide by it so they should comply…it is a plead for them to comply”.

Dr Obeng professed that it is unfortunate the association cannot sanction traders who do not conform to the measures put in place to protect themselves from contracting the coronavirus.

For ‘stubborn’ traders who want to be 'lawless', he was of the view that “government should send monitoring teams around from the health ministries or from the municipal assemblies to see how these things are being enforced or…complied with”.

Government has put drastic measures to curb the spread of the virus by banning social gatherings and imposing a travel ban on countries with high cases of the disease.

Meanwhile, Ghanaians have been advised to avoid close contact with people, wash hands regularly, cover their mouths when sneezing and/or coughing and avoid handshaking to prevent the contraction of the pandemic.