The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has intensified its public education on the novel coronavirus in all the 15 Municipal and Districts in the Upper East Region.

The sensitization drive, which is being done in collaboration with the Church of Pentecost, is to sensitize the people on the disease, how it spreads and how it can be prevented.

The Church of Pentecost had earlier on released 10 ultra-modern cinema vans to the Commission to enable it to undertake public education on the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

The Municipal and District Directors of the Commission who were the main speakers across the Region explained to the citizenry the symptoms of the new virus, how it spreads and precautionary protocols put in place to curtail its spread.

At the various communities visited, the team gave a brief history of the coronavirus, the current stage of the disease in Ghana, the mode of transmission, the basic measures and the directives from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

At the Kassena-Nankana West District, Mr Robert Danpare, the District Director, NCCE, told the people, “The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are: fever, tiredness, dry cough, some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat and diarrhoea. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory problems, kidney failure and even death.”

Mr Danpare explained that the disease was spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth through coughs or sneezes.

He said the virus had an incubation period of one to 14 days before it would be fully manifested in the person.

Mr Danpare noted, “the objectives of the public campaign is to limit and stop the importation of the virus, contain its spread, provide adequate care for the sick, limit the impact of the virus on social and economic life, and inspire the expansion of our domestic capability and deepen our self-reliance.”

At the Bongo District, Ms Alice Ndego, the District Director, NCCE, Bongo, mentioned regular hand washing with soap under safe running water, covering of mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs and avoid close contact with anyone showing the symptoms as basic precautionary measures of preventing one from being infected.

She urged members of the public to maintain social distancing, practice respiratory hygiene, stay home, and report to the health facilities when one noticed changes in one’s health.