According to Worldometer 735,041 people so far have died from the Coronavirus disease as of August 10, 2020, while the number of confirmed cases is 20, 083,655 globally. As the novel Coronavirus continues to wreak havoc all over the world, many businesses have collapsed leading to job losses across the world. In Ghana, the Ghana Statistical Service reported on Monday, August 3, 2020, that at least 42,000 workers have lost their jobs since March 2020 due to the outbreak of the virus in the country.
As the world continues to wait impatiently for scientists to develop a vaccine to fight the disease, the fear of contracting the virus and its negative health complications have compelled people to adopt positive hygienic practices that should not be overlooked, a situation many termed the “new normal”. The regular washing of hands with soap under running water, the frequent use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers which contains about 60-95% of alcohol recommended by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of United States of America, observing social and physical distancing, wearing nose masks and face shield and regular fumigation of our environment to prevent the transfer of infections from person to person are positive habits that have now become our daily routine due to the virus which should not be discontinued.
The virus has also compelled some individuals and organisations to install veronica buckets at public places such as vehicle terminals, markets, shops and offices for visitors or people who patronize these places to adhere to good hygienic practices to contain the spread of the virus. This should also not be discontinued even if the vaccine is found since it would go a long way to check the spread of other diseases.
The reduction of the number of people at social gatherings such as weddings and funerals has not only reduced the cost of these functions but also the psychological burdens of the organizers of these events.
At the corporate level, the virus has driven corporate Ghana to develop innovative ways to interact and also serve their customers virtually as many businesses now use virtual platforms to deliver services to their customers. For instance, most organisations now conduct meetings via ZOOM Cloud, Skype, Facebook and other social media apps. In fact, for some businesses to stay relevant, social media has become the vehicle they use to reach out to customers.
On education, some basic schools (Primary and Junior High Schools), especially the private ones have started engaging their students via ZOOM Cloud and Google classroom. This is truly encouraging and should be continued post COVID-19.
Just to share an experience as a mother in this COVID-19 era, two of my children are in the basic school and the third is in preschool. Since schools were closed from the 15th of March 2020, I have noticed something very important. None of my three children has fallen sick; no cold, no malaria, no stomach upset. None of them has even complained of a headache.
Recently, in a casual conversation with colleagues, I informed them of these improvements of health I have noticed in my children and to my amazement, they also confirmed the same observation in their families. If this observation is anything to go by, then COVID-19 safety protocols should be strictly adhered to in schools even after a vaccine has been developed to prevent infection of transmittable diseases in schools.
Recommendation
My first recommendation is that before children finally return to school, classrooms and school compounds have to be properly fumigated and the fumigation exercise must be done regularly to rid the schools of bacteria and viruses. Thereafter, the government should set up a task force to ensure that all schools across the country adhere to this directive. Also, school authorities should be encouraged to constantly disinfect the tables and chairs and other surfaces that the children normally touch.
Physical and social distancing must be practiced in schools so that infections will be minimised. From my observation as a mother, when children start preschool it is hectic as they come home with cold and cough and other infections. This is because they mingle with other children who have colds and coughs. My recommendation is that parents and guardians should be encouraged to keep their wards who have colds, coughs and other minor illnesses at home. Besides, authorities of preschools should be encouraged to practice physical distancing during siesta. Schools should also have isolation centres to keep children with infections to prevent further spread.
The use of Veronica buckets accompanied with soap and tissue should also be encouraged extensively. These veronica buckets should be placed at vantage points on the school compound and in front of every classroom to enable pupils to wash their hands regularly.
If these measures were to be practiced, I hope the infection rate would be minimized in our schools.
Jessie Osei- Brobby is the Gender and Disability Desk Officer of the Information Services department
