Editorial: As COVID-19 restrictions are gradually eased, onus rests on individual responsible behaviour

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO chief executive, is to reconvene the agency’s emergency committee this week to assess the pandemic.

He admitted that the world has made a huge effort, but conceded that there is “a long hard road ahead of us”.

The WHO first declared the spread of the virus to be an international health emergency in January, and there is no possibility that status will be changed at this point.

Ghana recorded 655 new cases of coronavirus yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 33,624.

However, recoveries/discharges have increased to 29,801, leaving the country with 3,655 active cases. The president, in his 14^th address to the nation on updates of the pandemic last Sunday, said COVID-19 will remain a part of our lives until a treatment is found.

However, Ghana cannot remain in a never-ending crisis management situation; therefore, he announced the second phase of the gradual easing of restrictions – which brings a rebounding of economic life. However, as a precaution, the country’s borders remain closed to human traffic; which shows we appreciate the complexity of the problem at hand, and will not rush to ease all restrictions since we are not in normal times.

Minister for Finance Ken Ofori-Atta presented government’s mid-year review budget to Parliament and announced a Relief, Resilience and Recovery plan, with the overarching aim of providing relief to the ordinary Ghanaian and strengthening productive sectors of the economy to ensure sustained economic activity.

Government is resolved in this second phase to help Ghanaians fully return to their daily routines, President Akufo-Addo indicated, but further admonished that Ghanaians remain vigilant, and respect the enhanced hygiene, mask-wearing and social distancing protocols that have become part and parcel of our daily routine.

As the country’s recovery rate improves we need to remain steadfast, since the virus is no respecter of persons, and adhere to the laid-down health protocols as the world endeavours to find a cure for this deadly virus.