It has emerged that swift action and enhanced surveillance by the Assembly Member for Kpong Ahudzo Electoral Area in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, Raymond E. K. Gborson, led to the discovery of the Indian expatriate who tested positive of COVID-19 in Eastern Region.
The Assembly Member who has been on alert since the outbreak of coronavirus in Ghana alerted officials of Ghana Health Service after getting wind of arrival of the expatriate from Indian and his ill health.
According to the Assembly Member, he is continuing with Surveillance and trying to locate some West African nationals who arrived in the community a few days ago for them to be screened.
Meanwhile, a team of Health personnel and Security have stormed an Indian Construction company’s site at Lorlonyo a suburb of Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region where an expatriate has been tested positive of COVID-19.
The Indian is said to be a supervisor of the ongoing Akosombo to Tema Railway project hence had daily engagements with workers on site.
He was among the 34 new confirmed cases announced by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday making it the first confirmed case in Eastern Region.
The Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Health Directorate confirmed to the media that, the patient returned to Ghana a week ago.
Contact tracing and Screening of staff began yesterday. About 200 persons are expected to be screened.
Eastern Regional Health Directorate’s Statement
The Eastern Regional Health Directorate said in a statement issued Tuesday, March 31, 2020, by the Regional Health Director Dr. Mrs. Alberta Biritwum Nyarko that “as a region, the number of clinically suspected cases is 28 as of 30th March 2020. Samples have been taken from all suspects and sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. Test results received are 27 and all are negative for COVID -19 whilst one (1) is still pending”.
The statement added “So far, there are 4 contacts of confirmed cases being traced. These are contacts of confirmed cases in Accra and they are doing very well under self-isolation. Three (3) of them have so far tested negative and the other one returned to Accra”.
The Minister of Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu announced Wednesday morning in Accra that, 34 news cases have been recorded which have increased the national figures from 161 as of Tuesday, March 31, 2020, to 195 in April 1, 2020.
The Greater Accra Region has 174 of these cases, the Northern Region has 10, the Ashanti Region has nine, the Upper West Region has one and the Eastern Region also has one known case of the virus
Out of the total cases recorded, five have died, 49 discharged but being managed home, 138 responding to treatment at various hospitals.
President of Ghana Akufo-Addo on Friday night of March 27, 2020, announced partial lockdown of the Nation’s Capital-Accra and Parts of Ashanti Region as an enhanced measure to prevent increasing community spread having closed down all Borders, Land, sea and Air space.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
