Rawlings’ funeral could be COVID-19 super spreader; restrict attendance - GMA to Govt

Rawlings’ funeral could be COVID-19 super spreader; restrict attendance - GMA to Govt

- The GMA has warned that the state funeral for the late former President JJ Rawlings could be a harbinger for COVID-19 spreading

- It is therefore calling on the administration to restrict attendance

- Active cases stand at 3, 286

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The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called on the Akufo-Addo administration to restrict attendance to the state funeral for former President Jerry John Rawlings.

According to the association, the event has the potential of being a super spreader of the deadly disease.

Rawlings’ funeral could be COVID-19 super spreader; restrict attendance - GMA to Govt
President Nana Akufo-Addo signing Rawlings' book of condolence. Image credit: Jerry John Rawlings
Source: Facebook

Ghana has since January witnessed an astronomical surge in case count. Active cases stand at 3, 286 as of the time of filing this report with six more deaths recorded, taking the number to 367.

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“Government should restrict the number of people attending the state funeral for the late H.E Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and rather encourage people to follow proceedings on Television and other social media platforms,” the GMA said in a statement on Monday, January 25, 2021, and sighted by YEN.com.gh.

Rawlings died on November 12, 2020, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, whilst receiving treatment after a short illness.

He was 73.

Rawlings’ funeral could be COVID-19 super spreader; restrict attendance - GMA to Govt
Image credit: Ghana Medical Association
Source: UGC

The remnants of the former president have been laid in state at the foyer of the Accra International Conference Centre.

The burial service which will take place at the Independence Square on Wednesday, January, 27 is open to members of the public.

Meanwhile, Information Minister-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said the Akufo-Addo administration is feverishly considering another lockdown as COVID-19 cases in the country continue to increase.

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“There’s a possibility of a lockdown and other restrictions,” the Information Minister-designate told journalists in Accra.

“If this trend continues, then yes that is where we are heading. I have to be very clear on that one that more restrictions could be introduced if this trend continues,” he stressed.

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China reportedly deployed a medical team, including frontline doctors to Ghana following the recent rise of cases in the country.

The medical team from China, the origin of the deadly contagion, includes 11 doctors in “various specialties.”

They have been trained on COVID-19 prevention and treatment in China, the leader of the team, Zhuang Shaohui, was quoted as saying.

“In particular, three medical specialists of our team have been on the frontline to combat the pandemic in China, whose practical experience, I believe, will also work here in Ghana,” Shaohui told Xinhua News Agency.

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Authors:
Mohammed Awal avatar

Mohammed Awal Mohammed Awal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (Journalism) at the Ghana Institute of Journalism. He has worked in print and online media with Ghanaian-based The Chronicle newspaper, Starr FM and US-based online portable, Face2faceAfrica.com. He also had brief stints with Africafeeds.