600, 000 facemasks released as schools reopen
President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced stringent measures implemented by the government to ensure that campuses are free from the coronavirus as learning resumes tomorrow.
Final year students from the various tertiary institutions are expected back in classrooms to complete their final years beginning June 15.
Addressing Ghanaians on latest COVID-19 update in his 11th address, President Nana Akufo-Addo said that all private and public educational facilities have been disinfected and logistics provided for health safety ahead of the resumption.
“600,000 face masks have been distributed to the tertiary institutions,” he said.
According to him, the 200, 000 students, teaching and non-teaching staff expected back on campuses will have three reusable facemasks each.
In addition, 1, 700 veronica buckets, 200,000 litres of hand sanitisers, 3,400 litres of liquid soap and 900 thermometer guns have been distributed.
Transportation and distribution of the items will be supervised by Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo, who is part of the logistics team of the COVID-19 response task force constituted by the government.
The students went home after the government announced the closure of the schools three days after Ghana recorded its first cases on March 12.
Academic work was organised online. However, after three months, the government has eased restrictions for final years to finish their academic calendar.
But not all final years are expected back as some have taken their exams online already.
How public universities reacted to Akufo-Addo’s call to return to lecture rooms
Mr Akufo-Addo said with half the class size, final year students will begin six weeks of learning to finish their programmes.
In addition to all the measures taken, universities with their own hospitals have been provided with PPEs, and isolation centres provided to cater for any positive cases that would be detected.
Those without health facilities have been mapped to hospitals within the towns the schools are located.
There will be no mass gathering and no sports activities except “religious activities under the new protocol will be permitted”.
“Social distancing and the wearing of face masks must become the norm on campus,” Mr Akufo-Addo insisted.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellors of the various universities have pledged to cooperate to ensure the exercise is effectively undertaken.
All persons have been advised to maintain personal hygiene, wash their hands regularly using soap and water and maintain social distancing.