Love can be fleeting and fragile but when treated as something precious and not be taken for granted, it becomes something truly amazing. The amazing relationship and social ties we share is strong in Ghanaian society. The love shared with family and friends, and the entire Ghanaian population is always memorable, especially in critical conditions demise of a relative, sickness or disease outbreak. That some love and social ties have been clearly displayed since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) reported from Wuhan, China on 31st December 2019. Some parents and friends who have relatives in China, especially in Wuhan have been calling for evacuation.

But is evacuation the best option during such disease outbreak?

Despite the high fatality rate and infectious rate of the virus claiming 2,618 lives and infecting 79,331 people globally as of February 24, 2020, at 10 am (WHO, 2020), we are still hopeful that China and the entire globe shall surely overcome the outbreak as soon as possible. 

At least, the recovery of 27,417 patients in Mainland China gives much hope. According to a WHO report, as of February 24, 2020, 29 countries have recorded 2,069 COVID-19 confirmed cases outside of China. These countries include: Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, India and Nepal.

The rest are Sri Lanka, USA, Canada, Italy, Germany, France, UK, Russian Federation, Spain, Belgium, Finland, Israel, Sweden, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, and Lebanon. So far two African countries – Egypt and Algeria - have recorded COVID-19 cases.

Currently, in China, measures to contain the spread of the disease, including the shutting down of travel, suspension of public gatherings, quarantines, containment or mass isolation and public mobilisation to comply with hygiene practices such as regular hand washing, have helped to reduce the spread of the infection.

This has resulted in the reduction of new cases. New cases on the Chinese mainland has dropped to 415 on Monday and 24 out of 34 provinces or regions recorded zero new cases on February 24. China's "forceful" measures that some of us living in China were not comfortable with, have reduced the spread of the disease and to a large extent, protected all people living in China and the globe.

Family and friends should do as much as possible to allay the fear, especially those who have their wards or relatives and friends at Wuhan and Huanggang (the two neighboring cities where the infection rates are high). Provinces like Beijing, where some of us are staying, has a little over 399 cases with four deaths.

What is needed most from family and friends is social support, both spiritually and psychologically. Support us with prayers and give us messages of hope full of inspirations, instead of evacuation which can endanger the entire population of Ghana if WHO guidelines or protocols for an effective surveillance system, screening, isolation/quarantine, evacuation, etc are not followed before, during and after the 14 day incubation period on arrival.

Colleague students in China, family and friends calling for evacuation, please let's consider the context of evacuation by Japan and other evacuation from the quarantined "almighty" Diamond Princess Cruise Ship.

Despite the warning by the World Health Organization (WHO) that evacuation of nationals from China to their home countries carries the risk of spreading the deadly coronavirus, some countries have taken the health risks and evacuated their citizens.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said, "there are possibilities that also asymptomatic people, people showing no symptoms at all, could be infectious, are definitely interesting and concerning and have to be closely looked at. That is all I can say so far… It is one of the big unknowns about this virus, which has to be solved.” 

The Unintended Consequences...

According to the New York Times, among the passengers from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship who were flown back were 14 American citizens who tested positive for the virus. This infuriated President Trump who was against the move.

There are now 189 confirmed cases of the flu-like illness in Japan, excluding the 639 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was docked for two weeks at Yokohama, and a third death was reported on Wednesday.

Assuming such unintended consequences arise from our positive calls for evacuation has it occurred to some countries, how can the health system of Ghana manage such cases?

Indeed, we want to survive, indeed we love our family and friends in China, especially in Wuhan and Huanggang, but should we prioritize our individual health to the health of the entire population in Ghana and the globe? Can all Institutions in Ghana ensure over 90% compliance to directives to prevent the spread of the virus if the unintended consequences occur?

Currently in Beijing, the University in which I am does not allow students to move outside campus, and no visitors are allowed in. There is a restriction on movement and all gatherings have been banned. Each student currently on campus has been given a thermometer to monitor individual temperature twice daily and report the values in the morning and in the evening. Students not wearing face masks are not allowed to move out of their apartments. At the entrance to the markets and shopping malls at the university campus, we are screened before entry. This is the "health-in-all" approach and every Institution is ensuring high compliance. Can these be adhered to in Ghana?

I suggest the positive calls with good intentions for evacuation should be directed to calls on government to increase disbursement of resources including local foodstuff and consumables: masks, sanitizers, toiletries, stipends, and the likes. (There is evidence that this has been done by the Government of Ghana).

Ghana's Ambassador to China, Edward Boateng, his deputy, Dr Charles Dwamena, and the entire team, the President of National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS)-China, Felix Gyawu and other executives, have done their utmost best to manage the situation affecting citizens of Ghana especially students, residing in China, particularly Wuhan.

To be continued...