Psychology lecturer at the University of Ghana Charles Wiafi Akenten says stigmatizing against persons with COVID-19 can affect the fight against the global pandemic.
He is of the view that most people may decide to hide when they develop symptoms of the deadly virus because of the fear of being stigmatized.
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“If I know that I will be rejected and stigmatize, people will be pointing fingers at me which in the long run will affect my self-esteem then if there is a way I can hide without letting people know I have the symptoms I will do that. It means I will infect many people, coughing is involved and many may be force to come out but if they don’t the lives of people are in danger”.
As at 7th April 2020, 23:30 hr, a total of 313 cases of COVID-19 with six (6) deaths have been recorded. The regional distribution of the cases are as follows: Greater Accra Region has most cases (274) followed by the Ashanti Region (25), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1), Upper East Region (1) and Central Region (1).
A total of 161 cases were reported from the routine surveillance, 37 from enhanced surveillance activities and those from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale are 115.
The death toll has however increased by one and the total number of deaths now stands at six.
President Akufo-Addo announced that a decision to extend or not the lockdown which ends on Monday will be made this week.
