Ghana ends mandatory face mask-wearing in public

Ghana has removed the mandatory requirement for face masks to be worn in public.

It has also reopened its land and sea borders today after a two-year closure as it lifted some coronavirus restrictions in an attempt to bolster its economy.

President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the decision yesterday, citing a sustained drop in Covid infections in Ghana and neighbouring countries.

The president also scrapped the requirement for negative PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers arriving in the country through the Kotoka International Airport in Accra from today.

However, he encouraged Ghanaians to continue observing enhanced hand hygiene practices and avoid overcrowded places.

Ghana’s daily infection rate has been falling steadily since December 2021.

The West African country has so far recorded 160,925 confirmed Covid cases.

Ghana has joined dozens of African countries that have eased most Covid containment measures despite the World Health Organisation warning last week that the restrictions were being lifted too soon.

WHO stated that the virus is still present and urged people to continue wearing masks as Covid-19 infections increase in some countries.

According to WHO, factors contributing to the increase in cases include the presence of the highly transmissible Omirocon variant and its cousin BA.2, as well as the lifting of public health measures imposed during the pandemic’s peak.

“These increases are occurring despite reductions in testing in some countries, which means the cases we’re seeing are just the tip of the iceberg,” WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Gheberyesus said.

Other factors are people mingling without their masks on and warning immunity from vaccination or prior infection said Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and infectious diseases.

“Without a doubt, opening up society and having people mingle indoors is clearly something that is a contributor,” Fauci said.