"We have begun a number of initiatives and we are going to roll out additional measures  in a bid to shut out the virus," the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Kumasi, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi last Friday.

Already, he said, there had been an intensification of education in the markets and other places. In the coming days, the markets in the city would be fumigated.

On Saturday, March 21, 2020, a Lebanese businessman who tested positive for COVID-19 with underlying chronic pulmonary condition died in Kumasi.

Two other positive cases have been recorded in the city of some 3.3 million people.

The announcement of the fatality appears to have created anxiety in some sections within the metropolis, but the MCE said there was no cause for alarm and urged citizens to remain calm while observing the basic protective measures against the disease.

Initiatives 

The metropolitan health directorate has been in the forefront of the initiatives.
 
Staff of the directorate,  joined by the MCE, visited all the major hospitals in the metropolis to know their COVID-19 preparedness.

Among the hospitals were the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Manhyia Hospital and the Suntreso Hospital.

"I was satisfied with the preparations the health facilities had put in place and I urged them to keep to the strategies and even build on them," Mr Antwi said.

The KMA also has safety and health teams that are taking education on the disease to every corner of the city.

 Markets

The markets are potential breeding grounds for the virus and the assembly is not taking chances with education in those places. 

At the Kejetia market,  Mr Antwi said all the shops had sanitisers for use by operators and customers.

The  management of the market had also provided 'Veronica buckets' at vantage points, providing running water for people to wash their hands with soap.

"Besides, all the 18 gates at the market have sanitisers for use by people who enter and go out," he added.

However, the assembly would have to contend with the multitude of people who swarm the city centre daily, providing a potential breeding ground for the virus.

"We educate people on how to space out to avoid contracting the disease by observing social distancing," the MCE stated.

Transport systems 

People who use public transport are vulnerable to COVID-19. Consequently, the KMA has initiated procedures to protect drivers and passengers from the spread.

Mr Antwi said he had a meeting with the 24 transport unions in Kumasi last Thursday, at which drivers and their mates were asked to use hand sanitisers.

"Drivers should at the end of every trip clean their vehicles," he added.

Misinformation

Mr Antwi asked the people to guard against misinformation on the pandemic, which had the tendency to spread fear and panic in the society.