There is no need to wear a mask while driving alone in an air-conditioned car with glass windows rolled up, says global health expert, Dr John Amuasi.
The health practitioner at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) said from a health perspective, there is hardly any risk of catching Covid-19 from outside a vehicle while driving alone.
Dr Amuasi told Kojo Yankson, host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Wednesday that there is hardly any risk of infecting other road users outside one’s vehicle,
His observations follow President Akufo-Addo’s Executive Instrument which makes wearing of face masks compulsory in all public places in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19.
The police have promised to enforce this law to the letter.
Everyone including those driving alone in their cars should wear a mask to avoid arrest and prosecution, the police say.
But speaking on the issue, Dr Amuasi said, “there is no need to take it this far. I don’t think the E.I. should be interpreted this way at all.”
Meanwhile, at a press conference on Tuesday, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said government will meet with the police administration to give a purposive interpretation to the E.I.
Addressing concerns on the newly adopted discharge protocols for persons treated of Covid-19, the physician said the WHO recommendations are backed by data and should not be a course of worry.
Ghana adopted the recommendations which in part meant persons treated can be discharged after testing negative once instead of the initial two round of testing after treatment.
This raised widespread concern of a possible spike in case the discharged persons are still infectious.
But Dr. Amuasi said the possibility of this is unlikely since the WHO recommendations are backed with data.