The symptoms include sore throat, cold, running nose and fever with body pains with temperatures above 38 degrees.

He announced that three centres had been designated to deal with any suspected case of the flu-like infection in the municipality and these are in Wa, Tumu and Nandom.

Mr. Bapula said this during a sensitization programme held at Tumu to discuss measures to prevent the spread of disease to the area.

He said Tumu Municipal Hospital, however, did not have a quarantine facility but had reserved a sideward for any suspected case.

He encouraged everybody to ensure good personal hygiene including good sanitation, use of alcohol-based sanitizer and self-isolation, when they showed symptoms of the virus.

Those who could not afford alcohol-based sanitizers "should resort to the golden principle, to wash their hands regularly with soap under running water".

He said persons without running taps "can practice proper handwashing by fetching water with a calabash or bowl and allow somebody to pour it on their hands while rubbing with soap to wash away".

Mr. Bapula reminded them that "as of now, there is no specific treatment for coronavirus, but efforts were being made by the World Health Organization, (WHO) and other partners and they are, by far, making positive strides to find the cure".

He therefore urged all to adhere to the directives issued by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the suspension of all public gatherings including funerals, all religious related activities, and festivals, among others.

Mr. Karim Nanyua, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), appealed to all citizens to observe the safety arrangements, meant to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and said, "I would not want a situation where you would force us to use the security to enforce these rules".

In a similar development, Alhaji Mubarak Niadere Fehe, the Tumu Chief imam, in strict adherence to the President's directive, announced the suspension of the Friday, Jummah prayers congregation at the Tumu Central Mosque and called on all Muslims to continue to "practice personal hygiene, avoid crowded place like funeral and keep a distance away from each other until the four weeks is over".

Also both the AL Sunnah Central Mosque and the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Tumu did not observe the Friday Jummah prayers as most followers observed prayers at home.