Coronavirus: UG Medical School backtracks on evacuation directive to Int’l students

The University of Ghana Medical School has backtracked on an earlier ultimatum to International students to leave the country within 14 days amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, March 16, a communique was issued for all students to vacate the Korle Bu campus of the Medical School.

According to the communique, “students living in Accra and any other region of the country have been given up to Thursday to evacuate their hostels.

“International students have also been asked to book tickets to their home countries. They have been given a two (2) week period to finalize all travel arrangements.”

Some International students who spoke to Starrfm.com.gh on condition of anonymity said they would have preferred to stay in the country rather than go back to their countries where they stand a higher chance of contracting the coronavirus disease.

However, authorities of the University of Ghana have now given an opportunity for international students who wish to stay to remain at their hostels.

In an interview with Starrfm.com.gh, the President of the International Medical Students Association Ife Gemp declined to comment on the issue.

Ghana has so far recorded nine cases of the deadly COVID-19 disease.

The coronavirus pandemic has now infected more than 200,000 people around the globe after doubling in less than two weeks.

Between the start of the outbreak in December and March 7, there were 100,000 confirmed cases recorded.

But another 100,000 people have been infected in just 11 days since then, largely due to a surge in cases in Europe.

China, Italy, Iran, Spain and Germany have suffered the highest number of infections.

The John Hopkins University, which announced cases had surpassed the 200,000 mark, also recorded 8,006 deaths.

The current death toll suggests 4 per cent of patients who catch the virus die from it.

But experts say the death rate is probably lower than that because the true number of infections is much higher is far greater because some countries, including the UK, are only testing people hospitalised by the illness.