President Nana Akufo-Addo has stressed on the need for Ghanaians to stay indoors for the next two weeks to avoid coming into contact with the killer coronavirus.

Addressing the nation through a live television broadcast Friday night, the President urged residents in Accra and Kumasi, where a two-week lockdown has been enforced, to heed to the advice not to go out during the period.

“For the next two weeks, I urge all of you, especially residents in the affected areas in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi, to be reminded everyday that the frontline of the fight against coronavirus, is your front door. If you cross it, you and your family will likely be infected so please stay at home,” he pleaded.

As of Friday, March 27, 2020, Ghana has recorded 137 confirmed cases.

A lockdown is typically an emergency protocol that a state uses to prevent people from leaving a particular area. It is intended to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) which has so far claimed the lives of four persons in the country. Two persons have so far recovered.

The directive comes into force from 1:00 a.m. on Monday, March 30, for a period of two weeks subject to review, the President announced.

The President directed during Friday’s address that people in the affected areas can only go out to get essential items such as food, conduct banking transactions or use the public toilet.

“It is vitally important that each one of us in all parts of the country continue to observe the social distancing [and] enhanced hygiene protocols for they are the weapons of our defence against the virus,” he advised.

Watch the full address below: