“The use of face masks in open spaces is now discretionary. We shall not hesitate to remove all mandates once the disease is no longer of public health consequence. We are aware that cases are rising in the Western Pacific and Eastern Europe.
“The US just mandated a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for adults older than 50. We fear a reversal of the pandemic situation, where largely unvaccinated poor countries will be made to bear the burden, because the West has developed very high immunity through large scale vaccination.
“Our biggest fear now is the upcoming Easter holidays. If we are able to cross and the cases continue to go down with no significant increase in hospitalisation and death, then certainly, we will lower down our level of alertness and relax most of the measures.
“We are working with data and algorithms to determine our line of action. Everything depends on what happens next. We learn from other countries, but we don’t have to necessarily copy what they are doing. Every country should evaluate its risk and take responsibility.”
Several countries have of late, relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and lifted the ban on the compulsory use of face masks.
Recall that on March 28, a neighbouring African country, Ghana, lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions and announced the re-opening of land and sea borders.
President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, in a nationwide COVID-19 address, said the decision was made after reviewing the raft of measures put in place to help win the fight against the virus, against the background of rapidly declining infections and relative success of vaccination campaigns carried out by the Ghana Health Service.
According to him, “From Monday, the wearing of face masks is no longer mandatory. I encourage all of you to continue to maintain enhanced hand hygiene practices and avoid overcrowded gatherings.
“All in-person activities, including religious gatherings, conferences, workshops, and funerals, may resume at full capacity, as long as the audience and participants are fully vaccinated. But handwashing and hand sanitizing points should be made available.
“Fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed entry through the land and sea borders without a negative polymerase chain reaction test result from the country of origin.
“It has been a difficult two years, and we can see light at the end of a very long tunnel. I appeal to all of us to live responsibly, protect ourselves, and do everything we can to stay safe as we lift these restrictions.”
On February 22, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced the end of all COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom including the mandatory use of facemasks.
As reported by Reuters, the announcement came as the UK was contending with a soaring number of cases.
Source: HealthWise
