The Ahafo Regional Director of Health, Dr. Boakye Boateng has appealed to the Ghana Police Service to enforce health safety protocols to stem the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in various communities in the Region.

He expressed regret that despite intensified public education on the viral disease, many people in the mining communities were not adhering to health safety protocols.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Hwidiem, capital of the Asutifi South District, Dr Boateng said though the Region had so far recorded eight confirmed cases, some people were not complying with government’s directives on the COVID-19, which could trigger community spread of the virus disease.

During a visit to some of the mining communities – Wamahinso, Ntotroso, Kenyasi number one, Kenyasi number two and Hwidiem, many people were sighted not wearing nose masks as directed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, while market women were not practicing social distancing.

Dr. Boateng expressed worry that hand washing with soap under running water and use of sanitizers among the masses had declined in many communities, while many taxi drivers did not wear the nose masks.

He explained it was tough for the health directorate to enforce health safety protocols among residents in the mining communities, and it required urgent assistance from the Police to bring the situation under control before the unexpected happened.

Dr. Ivan Muanah, the Medical Director of the Hwidiem St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Hospital refuted media reports that some health workers at the hospital had been infected with the virus, saying none of the 19 health workers who were exposed to the COVID-19 tested positive.

He explained that a pregnant woman who tested positive in the area delivered last week, and she was being managed in an isolation centre, adding her one-week-old baby was also in a stable condition.

Dr. Muanah emphasized that the COVID-19 was real, and advised the people to protect themselves by complying with all safety protocols.

As a treatment centre, Dr Muanah said the Hospital had scaled up precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus in the communities, and pleaded with the people to avoid unnecessary theories and adhere to restrictions in order not to expose themselves to avoidable dangers.