The Ministry of Trade and Industry has outlined enhanced restrictions and protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces.
This is part of measures to help curb the spread of the virus in the country, after health authorities disclosed that there is an increase in COVID-19 cases among institutions.
Some of the restrictions include employers preventing employees with mild coughs and cold from reporting to work, a shift system for employees and a reduction in in-house meetings.
Outlining the measures during the Information Ministry’s COVID-19 press briefings, the sector minister, Alan Kyerematen, said these measures must be strictly adhered to by companies.
“Stop employees with mild cough or fever from coming to work. Schedule work by breaking the workforce into shifts. Also limit in-house meetings as much as possible and use online conference platforms. If unavoidable, sitting arrangements should follow social distancing protocols. Employers should allow staff to work virtually if possible. Obviously, with most industrial establishments, you need to be on the top floor, but particularly for administrative staff, it should be possible for you to help them work virtually. Also, factories and enterprises with more than 29 employees are required to provide a registered nurse on sight,” he said.
The Trade and industry Ministry also indicated that it has engaged three local companies to produce 6.2 million face masks. Beneficiaries of these PPE include frontline workers and schools. Mr. Alan Kyerematen said the target is to produce 14.6 million PPE by July.
“To date, we have produced 6.2 million face masks. By the end of July this year, we expect to produce 14.6 million face masks just from these local producers. Then we will produce 90,000 hospital gowns and head covers respectively, and 60,000 medical straps for the nurses. When we combine the three level of producers, the average daily production of these face masks is about 250,000 face-masks” he said.
Following the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus in March this year, government has placed a high priority on the local production face masks and procurement of PPE as they are vital in protecting the lives of frontline health workers, who are endangering their lives every day to battle the virus.
Earlier this year, government engaged five local firms to produce a total of 3.5 million masks which were distributed across the country, particularly for health workers.
COVID-19 cases recorded
Ghana’s COVID-19 case count has increased to 15,472. The new cases were reported in 34 districts within nine regions of the country.
Meanwhile, 352 persons have also recovered from the disease raising the recoveries count to 11,430.
The death toll remains at 95. Ghana has 3947 active cases as of Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
