Tag: coronavirus in Ghana

The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has given the ruling government a high mark for various measures put in place to curb the novel covid-19 pandemic.

The government of Ghana as part of efforts to fight the coronavirus put in place some measures including mandatory quarantine for overseas travellers, ban on public gatherings and a partial lockdown of Greater Accra, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi.

Speaking to this in an interaction on Neat FM, John Boadu believes the ruling government needs commendation because had those measures not been put in place, Ghana’s story would have been bad.

“In terms of rating, I would give government 120 percent,” he averred.

Ghana extends lockdown for one more week

Restriction of movement in Greater Accra, Kumasi and Kasoa has been extended for one more week.

This was announced by President Akufo-Addo during his 6th address to the nation on the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday, April 9.

A 14-day restriction was imposed with the aim of controlling the spread of the novel Coronavirus and according to the President, “it is important that we stay the course”.

Source: peacefmonline.com

A birthday celebrant and one of the hosts of a birthday party have been arrested and are being investigated by the Kwabenya Police for violating the ban on social gatherings and public events.

The two, who were reported to have in their possession an unauthorised weapon were arrested at West Legon.

The Commanding Officer for the Accra Regional Joint COVID-19 Operating Centre, Chief Superintendent Raymond Adofiam, who confirmed the arrest stated that the police disrupted the party after a tip-off.

He further disclosed there were 15 other persons present at the party.

“Upon a follow-up, we chanced on this particular one and it happened to be true so they were arrested. They are currently being investigated by the Kwabenya Police,” he said.

As of 11 April 2020, 23:00 Hrs, a total of 37,954 persons have been tested with 566 being positive for COVID-19. The breakdown of the 566 positive cases are as follows: four (4) have been treated, discharged and tested negative, 552 cases have been categorised as mild disease on treatment, two (2) moderate to severe cases, none currently on ventilators and eight (8) have died.

Of the 566 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 292 were reported from the routine surveillance, 159 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.

Regions that have reported cases are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West.

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

Government is appealing to organizations and individuals to ensure social distancing while distributing relief packs to the vulnerable during the coronavirus lockdown.

Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, made the appeal on behalf of the government.

In a tweet, he says “we encourage all who are involved in distributing relief packs to the vulnerable to ensure social distancing is observed.”

He warned that “else your efforts will be counterproductive.”

We encourage all who are involved in distributing relief packs to the vulnerable to ensure social distancing is observed. Else your efforts will be counter productive. pic.twitter.com/Csf7HJ8O95

— Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (@konkrumah) April 13, 2020

Source:dailyguidenetwork.com

The Deputy Volta Regional Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Kwame Asiemoah Jr., has asked the Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, to beef up surveillance for COVID-19 after the region recorded nine cases for the first time since the outbreak in Ghana.

In a statement, he said: “Just yesterday, Sunday, April 12, I saw a release from the Volta Regional Coordinating Council signed by your good self on initiatives the region has taken to prevent the entry of the novel coronavirus into the region. I was impressed by the actions taken to safeguard the citizens of your region and I thought it was one the areas yet unaffected could emulate.

“I woke up this morning thinking through the steps you wish to implement and I thought I could use my expertise to help improve it in order to achieve its intended target. But alas, I guess we were a bit late knowing how sly this virus can be. We have recorded 9 cases as of today, April 12, 2020, as part of 566 cases country-wide.

“It is important now more than ever to move forward in implementing such preventive measures brought forth by the Regional Coordinating Council. It is important to note that these measures such as closure of markets, screening of travellers entering the region and observation of strict guidelines for drivers as well as social distancing rules, were aimed at preventing importation of cases into the region.

“At this stage where we have recorded cases, it is important to beef up our efforts at preventing importation of new cases as well as preventing community spread.”

Below is his full letter to the Regional Minister:

OPEN LETTER TO THE VOLTA REGIONAL MINISTER, DR. ARCHIBALD YAO LETSA.

12/04/2020

Dear Regional Minister,

HOW PREPARED IS THE VOLTA REGION TO COMBAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

Just yesterday, I saw a release from the Volta Regional Coordinating Council signed by your good self on initiatives the region has taken to prevent the entry of the novel corona virus into the region. I was impressed by the actions taken to safeguard the citizens of your region and I thought it was one that areas yet unaffected could emulate.

I woke up this morning thinking through the steps you wish to implement and I thought I could use my expertise to help improve it in order to achieve its intended target. But alas, I guess we were a bit late knowing how sly this virus can be. We have recorded 9 cases as of today April 12, 2020, as part of 566 cases country-wide. It is important now more than ever to move forward in implementing such preventive measures brought forth by the Regional Coordinating Council.

Source: classfmonline.com

The Member of Parliament for Akuapem South has provided resources for feeding of over 3000 vulnerable persons in the Constituency as part of the Easter festivities.

The sharing of cooked food started on Easter Sunday and will continue on Easter Monday to cover more than 3000 persons in Adamrobe, Comet Estates, Otiakrom, Nsakye, Dago, Pakro, among other communities, which include those who share borders with Greater Accra.

Even though the communities in Akuapem South are not under restriction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, their proximity to Accra has affected their activities and exposed the vulnerable ones to extra hardship.

It was, therefore, a happy occasion for the persons lucky enough to have the free meals from the MP who is also the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.

Mr O B Amoah expressed satisfaction with the free meals project and gratitude to God and all those who made it very successful.

Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended the imposition of restriction on Greater Accra, Kasoa, Kumasi and other parts of Kumasi for another week.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

Residents at Avenor, a suburb of Accra, have expressed joy following the provision of free water services announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently.

Many of the residents, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said it was a laudable idea as the previous price of 50 pesewas a bucket was unbearable.

Mr Alfred Asiedu Adjei, Presiding Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and Assemblyman for the area, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, lauded Ghana Water Company for responding to the plight of the people.

He called on residents of the area to support AMA in its efforts at ensuring a clean environment at all times.

He also appealed to the people to maintain the prevailing peace and unity in the area as this would encourage more to invest in the area.

Source: GNA

The Western Region has recorded its first case of Coronavirus.

According to the Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the case was recorded on Sunday 12th April.

He says the confirmed case in question involves a Chinese foreign national, who arrived in Ghana on Saturday 21st March, 2020 and was in self-isolation for the mandatory period of 14 days.

“Though he showed no symptoms of the virus, the medical team took his sample for testing on 8th April, 2020 to confirm his status; which unfortunately tested positive on the 12th of April, 2020,” the Minister explained in a statement.

“The said Chinese is one of six Chinese and 32 Ghanaians working at Coastal Quarry located near Anto in the Shama District,” he said.

He added that a combined team of medical and security personnel is currently at work at the site.

“It is understandable but also regrettable that in times like these, there will be lots of misinformation and false news carried through social media which unfortunately filter into the mainstream media.”

“It is therefore imperative that the facts concerning any confirmed or suspected case are checked from the Health Authorities before putting it in the public domain,” him stated.

“I am therefore appealing to the public to remain calm, and all those who might have come into contact with personnel of this company, to cooperate with the medical team for expedited contact tracing in order to curb the spread of the virus.”

“From the lesson learnt (i.e. absence of symptoms of the virus and testing positive after the 14-day isolation period), all MMDCEs and Public Health Emergency Management Committees should ensure that all persons released, without testing, after their 14-day self -isolation or mandatory quarantine at the various places are brought back for testing.”

He called Chiefs and the people of the Western Region to remain vigilant and to cooperate with the Health and Security Personnel to ensure that the virus does not get out of hand in the Western Region.

“I must add that, all recreational centres are out of bounds to the members of the public in furtherance of the ban on social gatherings.”

“The security agencies should, therefore, be hard on this,” he added.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

Government through the Ministry of Communications is today, April 13 launching the COVID-19 Tracker Application in its bid to counter the spread of Coronavirus in Ghana.

Accessible as a browser-based app, the COVID-19 Tracker will allow persons to self-report symptoms without needing to visit a healthcare facility and thereby aiding in social distancing.

Vice President, Dr Bawumia is expected to formally launch the application at a virtual concert in Accra.

Diana Asamoah, Great Ampong, Kaakyire Kwame Appiah, Lucky Mensah, Dada KD are part of the list of musicians are all expected to perform at this launch.

Follow the full launch here;

The number of people without travel history who have contracted the deadly novel coronavirus in Ghana has surpassed the number of imported cases as the virus spreads to almost all parts of the country.

Figures from the Ghana Health Service revealed 66.6 per cent of the people with the virus in the country have no history of travel, while those with travel history is pegged at 33.4 per cent

With just two first imported cases in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana has within four weeks recorded 566 coronavirus cases in 10 of the 16 regions with eight deaths.

“Of the 566 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 292 were reported from the routine surveillance, 159 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale,” the Ghana Health Service explained on Sunday.

A total of 37,954 persons have been tested for the virus since March 12 of which 566 came out positive. Four of them have recovered and discharged.

Of the current positive cases, 552 cases have been categorised as mild while two are said to be moderate to severe cases.

“None [is] currently on ventilators,” health authorities have said.

Meanwhile health officials have attributed the sudden increase in case number to intensive contact tracing and testing as well as other measures introduced by the government to stem the tide in the spread of the virus.

In a bid to stop community infections, government announced a two-week partial lockdown in Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa which has since Sunday been extended by two more weeks.

Restrictions imposed on public gatherings have also been extended by two weeks.

“The restrictions imposed on public gatherings, under EI 64, have been extended for a further period of two (2) weeks, with effect from Monday, 13th April, 2020,” the statement said.

Source: 3news.com

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) is entreating border residents to comply with directives aimed at combating the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Service in a statement issued Monday, April 13, reminded persons living along border towns and the general public that “all borders remain closed to human traffic until further notice.”

“We, therefore, urged them to cooperate and volunteer information to the GIS about persons who aid and abet illegal entry into the country to enable the Service apprehend such persons and stop the spread of the virus,” Head of Public Affairs, Supt. Michael Amoako-Atta, advised in the release.

The statement further acknowledged that the “life of every citizen is important and therefore, the GIS will not countenance any attempt by any individual to circumvent the directives or orders issued by the State.”

“We urge them to place premium on their health and that of the country and recognize themselves as an ally to defeat the deadly Virus and also a key stakeholder in the fight against all forms of irregular migration,” the release noted.

The GIS assured that it will continue to secure the borders against illegal entry as part of national response to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Source: myjoyonline.com

Few hours after the news of six confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Ketu South Municipal Assembly hit the nation, the Municipal Security Council and the Public Health Emergency Management Committee have directed the temporal closure of all markets on market days in the municipality until further notice.

The reason behind the temporal closure of markets on market days in the municipality is to ensure a strict adherence to social distancing as well as respecting the ban on social gathering in order to prevent the spread of the disease in the municipality.

However, traders are encouraged to sell every day and buyers are advised also to buy everyday so that no large crowds are recorded in the markets as had always been the case.

Beaches and recreational centers in the municipality are all ordered to close down with immediate effect.

Volta Region records nice confirmed cases of the COVID-19 pandemic yesterday, April 12, with Ketu South Municipal Assembly having the highest number of cases in the region while Hohoe Municipal Assembly and Ho Central recorded two and one cases respectively.

Source: Peter Atsu Ahianyo

One of the leading Ghanaian scientists helping us understand the novel coronavirus disease is Professor Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare of the School of Biochemistry and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana.

He, together with other leading scientists at the University of Ghana, has successfully sequenced the genome of the novel coronavirus disease by examining some 15 confirmed cases of the disease in the country.

Prof Awandare has been a leading light in research on many diseases in the country, especially the malaria parasite.

Born in Kandiga in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, Prof Awandare battled with recurring malaria as a child.

Defying all odds to have a good education, he obtained an a Bsc in Biochemistry from the University of Ghana in 1998 and an MSc in the same field in 2002 before obtaining his PhD in the area in 2007 from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States of America. His area of interest was the malaria parasite, inspired partly by his battle with the disease as a child.

Driven by patriotism, he returned to Ghana after spending three years in America contributing to knowledge there.

Prof Awandare took extraordinary steps to set up his own research group notwithstanding the lack of funds and other bottlenecks.

His major breakthrough came in 2013 when he led a consortium that secured funds to set up a new state of the art centre in the country to research into infectious pathogens. The consortium secured some $8 million from the World Bank, and Prof Awandare became the founding director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in 2013.

The Centre cutting edge research has ensured that it has secured several other funding to undertake research into many diseases.

He has received many awards for his excellence on research.

Source: mynewsgh.com

Markets in the Volta region which are close to the Eastern region have been shut down to avoid a spillover of covid-19 cases, Volta regional minister has said.

According to Archibald Yao Letsa, the move has been triggered by the rising numbers of covid-19 cases in the Eastern region.

The Dabala and Sogakope Markets in the South Tongu district have been shut, all markets in Ketu South have been shut, while the Adidome and Mafi Kumasi markets in the Central Tongu district have also been shut, the Minister told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Monday.

According to the Regional Minister, the 6 cases in Ketu South are all foreigners who got into the country through unapproved routes and have been arrested and kept in quarantine.

In Hohoe, the cases include a 32-year old man who returned to Hohoe from Tema about two weeks ago and a 22-year old pregnant woman who returned to Hohoe from Ashiaman to deliver.

While in Ho, is a 48-year who developed symptoms after 12 days of returning to Ho from Accra; all three are clinically stable.

All these 3 cases confirmed from routine surveillance are not known contacts of Covid-19 cases.

Source: Starrfmonline.com

The Coalition of NGOs in Health has appealed to government to make use of the social workers in its social intervention provisions in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ghana.

According to the chairman of the coalition, Gabriel Banaku, social workers will have better ways of managing social interventions and will not allow crowds to gather in the distribution of food.

“The social workers are not involved; they are not using them. There are somethings happening that the social welfare people will not allow. This is not the time to see people with party colours sharing food and stuff,” he told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr.

Some Ghanaians have taken to social media to express concerns over the manner in which government is distributing food to the vulnerable in the lockdown areas. Videos on social media have shown crowds gather in queues for food and other items.

COVID-19 cases in Ghana have jumped to 566 from 408 as of Saturday evening.

The development means over 140 cases have been recorded over the last 24 hours.

According to Ghana Health Service, as of 11 April 2020, a total of 37,954 persons had been tested with 566 being positive for COVID-19. The breakdown of the 566 positive cases are as follows: four (4) have been treated, discharged and tested negative, 552 cases have been categorised as mild disease on treatment, two (2) moderate to severe cases, none currently on ventilators and eight (8) have died.

Of the 566 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 292 were reported from the routine surveillance, 159 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.

Regions that have reported cases are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West”.

According to the GHS, the new cases were detected over the past twelve (12) days since the introduction of the enhanced surveillance.

Source: Kasapfmonline.com

The Ghana Police Service on Sunday warned henceforth any person found at any beach in Ghana will be arrested as part of measures to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus.

A statement signed by Superintendent of Police Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman, Director of Public Affairs, explained: “In accordance with the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012) and consequential orders, the public is to note that gathering at any beach in Ghana amounts to an offence”.

The law, however, exempts security service personnel or essential service providers whose presence at the beaches may be necessary to provide security or for public safety.

“All other persons found at any beach from now onward and within the period of imposition of restrictions on public gathering or movement will be arrested,” it cautioned.

The Police Administration advised the public to cooperate with it in the national interest.

Source: myjoyonline 

The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has described as encouraging news that scientists from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) have successfully sequenced the genome responsible for the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Dr Prince Hamid Armah who is also a Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba and a Parliamentary Aspirant for Kwesimintsim said the breakthrough “is a major step in the search for a cure or vaccine and will guide the work of scientists all over the world.”

While applauding the University of Ghana for this major feat, Dr Armah said the universities must devote more attention to their “research function, a vital part of their mandate. This would not only extend the frontiers of scholarship but provide vital data to guide public policy drafting and decision making.”

The Kwesimintim MP aspirant who is also a researcher challenged other institutions of higher learning to get involved in the search for solutions to COVID-19 and other public health crisis.

The discovery by the scientist in the University of Ghana is important because it provides useful information about the genetic composition of the viral strains, at least as far the Ghanaian cases are concerned.

According to the UG scientists, they analysed samples of 15 confirmed cases in Ghana to gain a comprehensive understanding of the variations of the virus present in Ghana.

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 genome was rapidly sequenced by Chinese researchers. It is an RNA molecule of about 30,000 bases containing 15 genes, including the S gene which codes for a protein located on the surface of the viral envelope (for comparison, our genome is in the form of a double helix of DNA about 3 billion bases in size and contains about 30,000 genes).

Comparative genomic analyses have shown that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the group of Betacoronaviruses and that it is very close to SARS-CoV, responsible for an epidemic of acute pneumonia which appeared in November 2002 in the Chinese province of Guangdong and then spread to 29 countries in 2003. A total of 8,098 cases were recorded, including 774 deaths. It is known that bats of the genus Rhinolophus (potentially several cave species) were the reservoir of this virus and that a small carnivore, the palm civet (Paguma larvata), may have served as an intermediate host between bats and the first human cases.

The University of Ghana discovery found that “while there were some differences between the strains from different countries all the 15 geromes [in Ghana] generally resembled (with 92% similarity) the reference strain that was isolated in the Wuhan province of China where the outbreak began.”

Dr Armah congratulated the University of Ghana for the feat and also called on other institutions to go further, including investigating the efficacy of local herbal medicines in dealing with this virus and other illnesses that currently confound conventional treatments.

The full statement is as follows

We must all be encouraged by the fantastic news from the University of Ghana, where a local team of scientists at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) have successfully sequenced the genome responsible for the COVID-19 global pandemic.

This breakthrough is a major step in the search for a cure or vaccine and will guide the work of scientists all over the world. The achievement shows that our local institutions of higher learning can and should perform their research function, a vital part of their mandate. This would not only extend the frontiers of scholarship but provide vital data to guide public policy drafting and decision making.

It must also challenge other centres of higher learning to participate in the search for solutions to public health and other challenges through rigorous research and application of data.

I congratulate the University of Ghana for this great feat and I call on it and our other institutions to go further, including investigating the efficacy of local herbal medicines in dealing with this virus and other illnesses that currently confound conventional treatments.

#forGodandCountry

#forTheGoodofGhana

#Covid19 #StayHome

Source: dailymailgh.com

The Chief Executive Officer of Atta-Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho has reiterated the need for Ghanaians to stop politicising the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The former deputy general secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been tweeting and calling on Ghanaians to collectively fight the outbreak as it knows no political colour, race, sex or personality.

Mr. Anyidoho, who has lost an uncle to the novel virus said, he would not play politics with it because it is real.

According to him, the world is not playing politics with the virus that has affected over 1.6 million people and killed 99,690 people.

His tweet read: “I’ve chosen not to play politics with COVID-19 because the World is not playing politics with it. Also from a very personal level, an uncle of mine has lost his life in London to it. Let us not play politics with it lest we live to regret. Blessed Easter Sunday to one and all.”

He has earlier penned an article in which he suggested that ”From a sociological functionalist perspective, this Virus is going to teach us critical lessons for the good of our own human existence.”

He also congratulated the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government for not panicking and being very cautious in its lockdown policies so they do not end up doing more harm than good.

The article also sent tons of thanks to the Ghana Health Service, House of Chiefs, Faith-based Organisations, Financial Institutions, the media, and Ghanaians for uniting behind a common agenda to fight COVID-19.

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

Former President John Mahama has called on the scientists working on covid-19 management in Ghana to project the peak period of infections in Ghana.

According to him, knowing the trend of the data will enable Ghanaians better appreciate what to expect in the coming days and therefore calm nerves.

“We need to project quickly, what the expected peaking of infection will be, and when we will begin to see a flattening of the curve on new infections and hospitalizations.

“From the latest statistics and escalation in numbers, it is clear we are in a difficult spot in the battle to contain COVID-19. But together we can overcome the uncertainties of the moment. The latest revelation that 57.1% of infected persons have no history of foreign travel is particularly worrisome. It implies that we may have begun to experience community transmission of the virus,” Mr. Mahama wrote.

In his latest article on the lockdown in Accra and Kumasi, Mr. Mahama reiterated the need for the country to another major research centre in the northern region.

“While our minds are focused on fighting COVID-19, I would like to start a conversation about strategic plans and investments that will address future pandemics. As I have already suggested there is the need for a National Infectious Disease Response Plan that clearly sets out the specific steps to be taken to prevent the entry of such diseases, quickly arrest them at a very early stage even if they do enter our shores and reduce their impact to the barest minimum”.

Source: GNA

Apostle Professor Samuel Asuming-Brempong, Chairman, Great Commission Church International (GCCI), has cautioned Christians that the COVID-19 pandemic is real and must adhere to the recommended safety measures to contain it.

He said measures such as maintaining social distancing, regular hand washing with soap under running water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers were essential for preventing the spread of the COVID-19.

Apostle Asuming-Brempong made the appeal on Sunday in his Easter Message to the GCCI via Facebook, which was monitored by the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

Apostle Asuming-Brempong had to resort to the use of the Facebook live to reach out to his congregants with his Easter Message, because of the band on social gathering as part of efforts to contain the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

He advised Christians and Ghanaians in general to adhere to the presidential directives aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apostle Asuming-Brempong said the resurrection of Christ would put a stop all COVID-19 pandemic; stating that “with Christ in our boat, we will always smile at the storm”.

“Please take good care of yourselves. Observe hygienic conditions for yourselves and family. Save yourselves (from COVID-19). Stay at home.”
Apostle Asuming-Brempong urged Christians to do their part and God would save them from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also appealed to Christians to continue to trust in God in all things.

Source: GNA

Some 45 persons, mostly young men and women are arrested by the Police in Dzodze, the municipal capital of Ketu North Municipal Assembly of the Volta Region for violating the ban on social gathering.

The arrested persons were said to be having a party and swimming in a pool at a guesthouse in the afternoon of yesterday, Sunday, April 12 when the Police batched into the surprise of many including the guesthouse owner who is also arrested.

The arrest was made on the orders of the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Hon. Anthony Avorgbedor who had a hint of the reckless activities of the youths going on in the guesthouse.

The 45 persons have since been released from the Police custody in exception of the owner of the guesthouse whom the MCE said has been warned not to allow such activities to be going on in his guesthouse in these difficult times but failed to adhere to the warnings.

The MCE however, said that the guesthouse owner will be released today, April 13 after spending the night at the Police custody.

He further indicated that education on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Municipality will continue unabated, citing the geographical location of the Municipal Assembly as one of the reasons since the assembly shares boundaries with the Republic of Togo and Ketu South Municipal Assembly which has recorded six cases of the Coronavirus.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

A private health facility at Walewale in the North East Region has been closed down after the facility recorded a COVID-19 death on Friday, April 10, 2020.

The deceased a 21-year old asthmatic patient was rushed to the hospital by his parents.

Upon reaching the hospital, health officials saw signs and symptoms of the coronavirus and a test was conducted on him.

But he died barely four hours later even before the test result was ready.

Health authorities in the region have closed down the said facility and contact tracing has begun to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has rejected the test result conducted by the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research.

Describing the test results as “fake” the family has, therefore, refused to cooperate with contact tracing efforts by health authorities in the region.

Majority of them have also refused to go into self-quarantine as advised by the authorities.

The family is also asking the management of the Walewale Hospital to step down for poor handling of the case.

As of April 10, 2020, 23:00 HRS, a total of 27,346 persons have been tested with 408 being positive for COVID-19 in Ghana.

The breakdown of the 408 positive cases are as follows: four (4) have been treated, discharged and have tested negative, 394 cases have been categorised as mild disease on treatment, two (2) moderate to severe cases, none currently on ventilators and eight (8) have died.

Of the 408 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 205 were reported from the routine surveillance, 88 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.

Source: primenewsghana.com

A worker with Meridian Port Services (MPS), a port management company at the Tema Port is suspected to have contracted the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Fortunately, the person is healthy and showing no sign or little symptoms of sickness.

However, the person has been placed in self-quarantine awaiting the test result.

Family members, as well as persons who have come in close contact with him, have also been tested to ascertain their status as the person is being monitored by health officials and the GPHA Inter-agency COVID-19 Committee as well as the District COVID-19 teams.

MPS together with Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the relevant health authorities are said to be vigilant towards the potential of any COVID-19 cases amongst the port users.

The vigilance led to the identification of the suspected COVID-19 case within Terminal 3.

Meanwhile, officials have reportedly put in place the necessary precautionary measures to curtail any future contraction or spread.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

The Municipal Chief Executive for North Ayawaso, Aminu Mohammed Zakari, has confirmed some 30 cases of Coronavirus in the constituency.

Citing information he received from a just-ended meeting in a live broadcast Sunday afternoon, he indicated that 10 of the recorded cases are in critical condition.

Areas including Newtown, Mamobi and Nima were mentioned as specific areas where the virus has affected.

more soon

Source: Ghanaweb

Former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service and presidential advisor on Health, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare says the Covid-19 cases in Ghana are not getting worse.

Dr Nsiah Asare said it is rather a positive step by the government through its enhanced contact tracing and testing exercise to make sure the virus did not spread further.

This was in response to a statement from Epidemiologist, Dr. John Amuasi of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology that the cases in Ghana will get worse before getting better.

Speaking as a panellist on a radio show monitored by primenewsghana.com., Dr Nsiah Asare said the cases in the country have increased because of the enhanced contact tracing.

According to him, this is a positive sign because without testing we will not know the true state of the spread of the virus in the country.

He said since the lockdown over 37,000 samples of contacts have been taken and are being tested, and this will inform the next decision of the government.

Dr Nsiah also disclosed that the government will soon introduce the rapid testing system to complement the PCR currently being used for the testing.

Ghana’s case count

Eight (8) out of sixteen (16) regions of the country have recorded coronavirus cases after the national case count hit 408.

Regions that have reported cases are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West.

This means the country has confirmed 30 new cases after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced on Thursday that the case count stood at 378.

“Of the 408 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 205 were reported from the routine surveillance, 88 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale,” the Ghana Health Service (GHS) reported on Saturday afternoon.

Source: primenewsghana.com

Sources have told DGN Online that some 15 Indians have contracted coronavirus in the Eastern Region.

According to our sources, the Indians are being kept at a camp in the region.

“15 new Coronavirus cases in the Eastern Region. All Indian nationals,” the source said.

“…And they are kept in the camp where they worked. No answers on what work they were doing, when they arrived, how many other Indians there were, and above all, have all Ghanaians around been tested as well?” one of our sources quizzed.

The Ghana Health Service remains tight-lipped over the matter.

Efforts to get the GHS to speak to the issue proved futile as officials declined to say whether or not the claim is true.

Sources say the Indians are working with Afcon Construction Company Limited, an Indian firm contracted to construct the Tema-Mpakadam rail line.

It is believed that one of the Indians came into Ghana with the virus and has since spread it.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Presidential Advisor on Health, has indicated that the Akufo-Addo administration, did its possible best to save the life of renowned physician Prof. Jacob Plange-Rhule who was being treated for COVID-19.

According to Dr. Nsiah-Asare, the doctor of the late professor requested for Actemra, a drug used in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis to be administered on the deceased physician, but Actemra until after the request, had not been licensed for use in Ghana.

Dr Nsiah-Asare added that the only place they could get the drug was either in Kenya or South Africa.

He stated, the President was then contacted to issue a directive for the drug to be procured from the countries where it was available.

Dr Nsiah-Asare noted that President Akufo-Addo quickly released the Presidential Jet to be used to get the drug into the country as soon as possible.

“We used the Presidential Jet within a matter of 24 hours to bring the drug but unfortunately by the time it reached here, my good friend was gone,” Dr Nsiah-Asare said on Newsfile.

Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule, who was Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, died at the University of Ghana Medical Centre on Friday morning where he had been receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit after testing positive for the novel Coronavirus.

The Ghana Medical Association General Secretary, Dr Justice Yankson, told GNA that Prof. Jacob Plange-Rhule had an underlying medical condition.

At least three frontline health practitioners including a doctor have contracted the virus in line of duty. There are calls by a section of frontline workers demanding that the government increases the supply of personal protective equipment (PPEs).

The late Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule had extensive experience in research, particularly, among populations of African origin, in the fields of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular disease epidemiology.

GhanaWeb hereby profoundly expresses our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.

We also call on the general public to heed the call for social distancing and self-isolation – that is a sure way to save a life from COVID-19.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Three more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Upper East Region, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the region to four.

According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the new cases were detected after contact tracing 44 people who came into contact with the first confirmed case in the region on April 3, 2020.

“All the three confirmed cases have been in self-isolation since they were identified as contacts. Contact tracing has been initiated to identify all close contacts of the new cases for quarantine,” the GHS said in a press release.

The release, signed by the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Winfred Ofosu, also commended the public for the cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.

Dr Ofosu also urged the public to remain calm as the nation works to bring the situation under control.

The Ghana Health Service has confirmed 30 more Covid-19 cases in the country.

According to the Service, of the 408 cases, 205 were reported from routine surveillance, 88 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.

Accra still leads as the epicentre of the outbreak in Ghana with 329 cases.

Source: myjoyonline 

Residents of Walewale on in the North East Region have been left alarmed and in fear, after the death of a 19-year-old who reportedly contracted the Coronavirus in the area.

The young man had been on admission for the management of an asthmatic attack.

Deeply worry and anxiety has gripped residents in the area since results the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) indicated that the deceased had indeed died as a result the novel coronavirus.

The man, a known asthmatic patient in the facility, reported to the Walewale Government Hospital for the treatment of asthma after he suffered a severe relapse of the disease. He was subsequently admitted. He died after exhibiting symptoms and signs of the virus.

His samples were then taken and sent to KCCR for testing, whereupon the results have come out as positive.

The announcement of his death as a result of the virus has left residents in fear and panic, especially given that he had no travelling history.

Meanwhile health workers at the Emergency Ward of the Hospital have all been quarantined and their samples taken for testing even as the ward has been shut down for disinfection.

The Municipal Chief Executive of the West Mamprusi Municipality, Issahaku Aremeyaw, has said that the Coronavirus Emergency Response Team has initiated vigorous contact tracing to identify all the deceased had come into contact with.

Source: mynewgh.com

Eight (8) out of sixteen (16) regions of the country have recorded coronavirus cases after the national case count hit 408.
Regions that have reported cases are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West.
This means the country has confirmed 30 new cases after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced on Thursday that the case count stood at 378.

“Of the 408 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 205 were reported from the routine surveillance, 88 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale,” the Ghana Health Service (GHS) reported on Saturday afternoon.

The death toll has also increased from six (6) to eight (8).

“Over the past twelve (12) days (since the introduction of the enhanced surveillance), a number of measures have been introduced to control and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Ghana. Among these include restrictive movement in the hotspots of the outbreak, intensive contact tracing and laboratory testing, social distancing, and intensive public education. These measures have resulted in a sudden increase in case detection, with high number of cases being reported,” said GHS.

“As of 10 April 2020, 23:00 HRS, a total of 27,346 persons have been tested with 408 being positive for COVID-19. The breakdown of the 408 positive cases are as follows: four (4) have been treated, discharged and have tested negative, 394 cases have been categorised as mild disease on treatment, two (2) moderate to severe cases, none currently on ventilators and eight (8) have died,” it added.

The GHS further disclosed that 57.1 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ghana had no history of travel while 42.9 percent had some history of travel.

Lockdown extended, borders remain closed

In his 6th televised address on the country’s fight against the pandemic, President Akufo-Addo extended the restrictions on movements in Greater Accra, Greater Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa by one more week.

A 14-day restriction on movement had been placed on the aforementioned areas because significant numbers of virus infections had been recorded there.

The lockdown, according to the president, is 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.

While praising the populace for adhering to the protocols and asking for continued patience, he announced an extension on the basis that the country was not yet out of the woods.

“Clearly, until we have the situation fully under control, we cannot, at this time, open our borders. They will have to remain shut until further notice,” he said.

“Further, the partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi has facilitated a more aggressive programme of enhanced contact tracing, with a total of four hundred and fifty (450) teams… So, the decision has been taken, through the issuance of an Executive Instrument, to extend the restrictions on movement in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and Kasoa and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and its contiguous districts by one more week, beginning 1am on Monday, 13th April, subject to review,” the president added.

The Sissala West National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate Mohammed Sukparu aka Buoti Mahama has donated items worth ¢5,000 to the District Health Directorate to augment the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in the district.

The District Health Director Mama Cecilia Kakariba received the items presented by the Constituency Chairman for the NDC, Hon. Ismael Manaf on behalf of the parliamentary candidate Mahama Sukparu at the District Health Administration Gwollu.

The items included 40 gallons of liquid soap, hand sanitizers, Veronica buckets among many others.

The District Health Director expressed her profound gratitude for the gesture and indicated parliamentary candidate has been supporting the directorate since the outbreak of the pandemic.

“This is not the first time the NDC Candidate is offering us support to conquer this pandemic. He has also made it possible for us to be able to educate the public on COVID-19 through the only radio station Gwollu Fm Station by purchasing airtime for us,” said Madam Cecelia Kakraba.

The Sissala West Constituency of the NDC was represented at the donation by the Constituency Secretary, Women’s Organizer, Communications Officer and other Zonal executives for NDC.

Speaking to the media after the presentation, Abudu Fuseini Gbene Constituency Communications Officer conveyed the best wishes of Hon Mohammed Adams Sukparu even though he could join in the donation due to the lockdown.

“Honourable sends his greetings and best wishes. He intended to be here but had to observe the partial lockdown initiated by the government. It is his hope that these items will go a long way to help the Health Directorate combat the pandemic,” he said.

According to the Director of the District Health Directorate, Madam Cecelia, the items will be distributed among all health facilities in the district. She also used the occasion to call on other individuals and organizations to support the Directorate during this pandemic.

Source: Nurudeen Kassim, contributor