Ghanaians risk infection as they share nose masks

This week, banking institutions and other places of transactions began to enforce a “no face mask, no entry” rule. The decision to implement this directive was influenced by the insistence of President Akufo-Addo as well as the  Ghana Health Service on the mandatory wearing of nose masks in public.

Varuous organizations have released statements to their clients and general public concerning this measure. In places like the Volta Region,  Coordinating Council issued a directive on Monday which made the wearing of nose masks compulsory throughout the region.

To enforce the policy and also ensure that social distancing rules are adhered to, organizations are allowing a very limited number of people in while others wait their turn outside. Those outside are mostly provided with options that ensure they are at least 2 meters away from each other.

A social media post on Facebook however tells a different story about the situation on the ground.

Annie Owusu narrated the experience of her sister at an office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). According to her sister who was there to purchase credit. In her narration, she notes that her sister observed that the office was practicing the no face mask no entry policy. Those without a face mask were refused entry into the office.

In a shocking turn of events, those who were outside begun collecting the used face masks of those who exited the office in an effort to outsmart the policy.

Disposable medical face masks are intended for a single use only while homemade masks may be reusable after proper sterilization. Not only are the masks intended for single use, they are not to be shared as they expose subsequent users to droplets from the previous user(s).