Ghana is to close all of its borders from midnight on Sunday, March 22 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The border closure is to last for two weeks according to President Nana Akufo-Addo and “will not apply to goods, supplies and cargo”.

“All our borders; by land, sea and air, will be closed to human traffic for the next two weeks beginning midnight on Sunday,” he said in an address to the Nation on Saturday evening.

President Akufo-Addo said the government’s aim with all its measures are to “limit and stop the importation of the virus, contain its spread, provide adequate care for the sick, limit the impact of the virus on social and economic life and inspire the expansion of our domestic capability and deepen our self-reliance”.

Following restrictions from recently reviewed travel protocols, the only admissible travellers into Ghana were Ghanaians and foreign nationals with residence permits in Ghana.

But ahead of the closure, this category of travellers will be subject to a mandatory quarantine.

Ghana announced new travel protocols when the detected cases stood at seven.

Travellers who had been in coronavirus-hit countries with cases exceeding 200 within the 14 days preceding their arrival were to be barred from entering the country.

The admissible travellers who exhibit symptoms of the virus are to be quarantined and tested upon reaching Ghana.

The government said airlines had been instructed not to allow such persons into the country.

It also said travel to Ghana was strongly discouraged.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Ghana currently stand at 21.

More than 287,239 people have been infected worldwide with over 11,921 deaths.

Source: Citinewsroom.com