Bishops in Ghana Advocate for Preventive Measures against Coronavirus

With governments around the world scrambling to control the spread of the deadly virus amid increasing confirmations of the virus outside China, there are at least 93,000 cases of COVID-19 across the globe.

Cognizant of the challenges in finding a cure or vaccine for the virus, the Catholic Prelates in Ghana have advised citizens to focus on preventive measures saying, “Clean hands frequently by using soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub.”

“When coughing and/or sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue –throw tissue away immediately and wash hands with soap and water,” the Bishops have advised and added, “If you have fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat and/or difficulty breathing, seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your healthcare provider.”

In an encounter with a person exhibiting COVID-19 signs, the Prelates caution, “Keep a distance of at least one step (one meter).”

In neighboring Nigeria, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos temporarily suspended the Sign of Peace through handshakes and hugs and the receiving Holy Communion on the tongue alongside other directives.

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that are known to cause illnesses ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Several known coronaviruses circulate and cause disease in animals. 

A spill-over event occurs when a virus, known to circulate in animals, is found to have been transmitted to humans due to increased contact between animals and humans. COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first confirmed in Wuhan Province China following reports of a series of cases of pneumonia.