The Ghana Catholic Bishop’s Conference has ordered the suspension of public Masses for a month.

Retreats, Devotions, meeting have also been put on hold.

All Catholics schools are also to close “until further notice as directed,” a statement from the national catholic secretariat said.

The instructions are in line with the government’s directives as measures to contain the novel coronavirus which has since been diagnosed in Ghana.

Six persons have been infected with the virus although health officials say these are all imported cases.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has issued a travel ban on countries which have recorded more than 200 cases of the pandemic.

All necessary public gatherings according to the president must be attended by 25 or fewer persons.

Following President Akufo-Addo’s directives, the leaders of Catholic Bishops have further recommended that “daily private Masses should be offered for God's intervention with not more than five people in attendance.”

“Churches and adoration chapels be opened for private prayers by parishioners. Please, do well to observe the required distance of two meters and pray in silence.

“That where possible, live streaming of Masses should be encouraged to enable the faithful to receive spiritual Communion.”

“We exhort all Catholics and people of faith to intensify individual and family prayers and encourage all to read the daily Mass readings and reflections provided on several social media platforms,” the statement said.

“In addition to the above recommendations, we urge all Ghanaians to keep observing the basic precautionary measures that will help minimize the spread of the virus as well as protect oneself from being infected with Covid-19.”