Nkawkaw, COVID-19 cases hit 30, Authorities set to enforce patronage of satellite markets

The Municipal Chief Executive officer for Nkawkaw and chairman of the Municipal Emergency Public Health Committee, Hon. Lawyer Yaw Owusu Addo has announced on Monday that the positive case count of COVID-19 in the municipality has risen to thirty. He has therefore indicated that, city authorities will immediately begin with enforcement of the wearing of nose masks, as well as ensure the compliance to patronage of the newly established satellite markets in the area.

“We recorded our first three cases just about two weeks ago but as I speak today, we have now recorded thirty and still counting. People still take it as a joke but that should not be the case and that is why I want to use this opportunity to caution all of us to be very careful in this place because we are not in normal times. Again as the president has indicated, our only defence is to wear the nose masks, which he has now made mandatory including the regular hand washing, sanitizing and social distance observation” he said.

According to the MCE, the assembly has therefore decided to use the situational trend to get all traders, especially those who trade in second hand clothing and shoes, off their current positions on the public right of way and enforce their relocation to the new “Akuajoo” market, popularly known as Nkawkaw kantamanto, adding that, any one who flouts this latest order from Friday 19th June will face the law.

” Let me say now that due to our current case trends, the assembly has decided that, from Friday 19th June, 2020, all traders who deal in second hand clothing will not be allowed to sell in the public right of way or on the shoulders of the roads where pedestrians should walk. They are all supposed to go get a place at the “Akuajoo” market, popularly known as Nkawkaw kantamanto or face the full rigours of the law. By this, I am not referring to those of them who are doing their business in shops. Again, those who are selling vegetable and other food stuffs should also find their way to the market annex because no one and I repeat, no one will be allowed to sell along the road again” he added.

Hon. Owusu Addo further stated that, the Sunday market will be relocated from the middle of town to the “Akuajoo” market in order to expand the Zongo community and make it one of the business centres in the municipality.

“I will hereby plead with all residents to heed this new directive to ensure the smooth rebuilding of the municipality. Government I must say will hold no one guiltless who intends to be a stumbling block in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic” he noted.

Nana Dankwah Bamfo III, Okwahu Gyaasehene Kyeamehene, who represented the chief of Kwahu Atibie, Barima Kwame Asante Betiani II, Okwahu Gyaasehene commended government for its efforts so far through the assembly in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. He also appealed to all residents, especially the affected traders to heed the MCE’s directive and relocate to the Akuajoo market in order to ensure the safety all residents in the municipality.

“Let me assure our brothers that, Nananom are ready to assist and support them in any way necessary to ensure that business at the new markets become successful and so the should comply and move firstly to the place. We know that relocation in its self is not a palatable thing but we will support them fully to make business better. I will also appeal to the MCE and his office to ensure that while we relocate the traders, all necessary arrangements will also be put in place to improve business for our brothers and sisters “he said.

Mrs.Celestine Asante, the Municipal Health Director, speaking to journalists also confirmed the closure of some wards in the Holy Family Hospital in order to create enough space at the facility due to the increase in cases in the municipality.

According to the health director, most of the cases recorded in the municipality were imported case and therefore the management thought it wise to put such measures in place to curtail the situation.

“28 out of the thirty cases were diagnosed here in the municipality, whiles the other two were diagnosed in Accra and Kumasi respectively* *Out of the figure, seven persons voluntarily reported to the health facilities by themselves with symptoms of inability to sense a scent or feel a taste.
This therefore confirms that, aside the initial symptoms such as high temperature, cough and dyspnea, anosmia and ageusia are also new symptoms that affects patients”

She has also advised that people should adhere the mandatory face mask wearing because from the statistics, there is an increasing rate in institutional transmissions.

“Parents must also be careful how they leave their children with other people because child infections is also surging up” hhe noted.

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