They were charged to sensitise the public to know the causes, symptoms and prevention of the COVID-19 and to emphasise the need for the people to report to the health facilities anytime they experienced those symptoms.

The symptoms they were told included: fever, running nose, cough; sore throat, breathing difficulties and possible headache.

Mr Mustapha Sinto Nuhu, the Upper West Regional Director of the Information Service Department (ISD), who took the officers through the training, implored them to encourage the people to isolate themselves when experiencing those symptoms in order to prevent its possible spread.

He stressed the need for the public to desist from using alcoholic beverages as substitute for alcohol-based hand sanitizers in the fight against the COVID-19 as that was not effective to protect them from the disease.

He entreated the information officers and the communicators to stress on the need for the public to practise proper handwashing with soap as it was the most effective way of protecting themselves against the virus.

Mr Nuhu indicated that the virus could also be transferred through money and paper handling, and urged the public to inculcate the habit of using hand sanitizers on regular basis in the absence of hand washing facilities.

He urged the officers to educate the public to cover their noses and mouths with their folded elbow anytime they were sneezing or coughing and to observe social distancing of at least one meter to help curb the spread of the COVID-19.

The participants raised concern about their safety and protection from contracting the deadly Coronavirus as they went on the field to educate the public on it.