Coronavirus screening at Kotoka International Airport very effective – Korle Bu CEO

Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Daniel Asare has applauded the level of preparedness authorities at the Kotoka International Airport have initiated towards averting a possible outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

According to him, extension of the enhanced passenger screening to all international arrivals is a laudable initiative which actually serves its purpose.

In an interaction with the media on the sidelines of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Innovation Summit, Dr Daniel Asare said; “I just went through the airport…they’re doing marvellously well. They have a checkpoint, anybody who is coming in you fill a form, where you’re coming from, your neighbour, your contact, where you live, and they’ll also educate you…and screen you…”

While assuring the safety of Ghanaians and tourists, he also allayed fears of a possible break out of the coronavirus in Ghana and his reason was that, the country’s tropical temperatures may not foster the growth of the “violent virus.”

The virus which broke out in the last quarter of 2019 has infected more than 28,000 people in China with more than 500 deaths recorded so far. It has also been reported that outbreaks have been recorded in more than 20 countries globally.

In this regard, several countries have initiated measures to avert the possible outbreak of the virus which has now become a global health crisis and Ghana is no exception.

Health Minister, Kweku Agyemang, last week announced government’s plans of fighting off the communicable disease.

He said; “The government of Ghana has allocated an amount of GHS2.5 million as start-up funds towards the implementation of the initial response for our national preparedness plan. The Ministry of Health has, therefore, initiated the process to procure 10,000 pieces of personal protective equipment for the use of all our frontline health workers...”