The Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern Region has recorded its first two positive cases of the novel coronavirus disease, bringing the number of the total in the Region to 96.

Giving details, the Birim Central Municipal Director of Health Service, James Avoka revealed that the first patient is an elderly man who escaped Akwatia, in the Denkyembour district, to hide at Akyem Aboabo.

He was later discovered and taken to an isolation centre by the security personnel in the municipality.

Dr Avoka added that contact tracing has identified five persons who have been isolated as they wait for their results from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR).

Speaking to Adom News’ Kwasi Azor, the Municipal’s Health Director noted that the Municipal Public Health Emergency Management Committee is set to meet market queens in Akyem Oda for a final decision on the need to practice social distancing at various markets in the municipality.

He indicated that the Assembly and the health directorate will be forced to close down the markets with immediate effect should they defy the directives.

“It seems the social distancing directive is not working very well for us, so we may try to close down the markets for now.

“But we are putting measures in place to ensure that they observe the social distancing and use face masks including all the precautionary measures that have been put in place,” he said.

Some residents of Akyem Oda expressed worry and promised to abide by the precautionary measures to help eradicate the virus in the area.