Disregard for social distancing will cause a second lockdown – Ben Ephson

Ghana on Monday, 20th April ended a three-week lockdown on Greater Accra, Kumasi and Kasoa, as the President said testing had improved and the measures were having a “severe” impact on the poor.

In a televised address, President Nana Akufo-Addo after lifting the restrictions on movement indicated that all other directives were still in full force.

However, most Ghanaians after the lift of the lockdown have disregarded most of these directives, especially social distancing in public places.

Renowned pollster and journalist Ben Ephson, speaking to issues relating to the social distancing directive has indicated that, “the continuous disregard for the directive can be the reason the country is placed under another lockdown.”

He shared these views on Happy98.9FM’s Happy Morning Show with host, Samuel Eshun.

On his authority, social distancing is crucial in the fight against COVID-19 as it is important in controlling the spread of the virus. “Once we can do this, it can stem the flow of the virus”, he pointed out.

Reiterating his earlier assertion, he noted that a typical place where the policy was not being adhered to were our markets. And that if traders and all those who buy do not obey the social distancing directive, “another lockdown will result from their actions and inactions”.

After lifting the lockdown the President also announced that the country’s borders remain closed. And has also extended the ban on social gatherings, including religious meetings for another 2 weeks.

The extension comes into full force on Monday 27th April 2020 and was announced in the President’s eighth address to Ghanaians since the COVID-19 reached the shores of Ghana.