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The Volta Caucus in Parliament is to provide support to the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the Region.

The support had become necessary as the Region recorded cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Some members of the Caucus led by Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho West Constituency met the Regional Public Health Emergency Committee in Ho, to be briefed on the situation and measures the Committee was taking to limit the spread of the virus.

Mr Rockson Nelson Etse Defeamekpor, Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi who briefed the media on behalf of the Caucus after a meeting with the Committee said a collective effort was needed to fight the disease.

He said though they were providing necessary support to their various constituents to fight the pandemic, it was important to provide support to the VRCC in its drive to develop effective measures to contain the COVID-19 and mitigate its impact on the Region.

The MP said the country could contain the pandemic if all the citizenry adhered strictly to the World Health Organization's safety health protocols and observed the President’s directives.

Mr Defeamekpor urged the citizenry to observe the health safety protocols of washing hands regularly under running water with soap, using sanitizers, cover their nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing, social distancing and avoid social gatherings.

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister was grateful to the Caucus and said the Committee was putting necessary measures in place to limit the virus and mitigate its impact on the Region.

He said the Committee would be in touch with the leadership of the Caucus for members to“ know what we are doing, what we need and what support they can give us to limit the spread of the virus."

The Regional Minister said joint security taskforce was formed to ensure that drivers complied with the directive not to overload their cars to avoid the spread of the COVID-19.

He said there were also plans to decongest markets in the Region, and therefore the Committee was looking for places to relocate some traders.

Dr Letsa called for effective collaboration from all, saying “the virus does not know political colours, therefore we must put our political affiliations aside and work together to contain the disease."

He said the Region had holding centres at all the health facilities, adding that plans were afoot for the Region to have its own testing centre at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) Laboratory.