Ghana’s coronavirus cases jump to 68

Ghana has recorded 68 cases of coronavirus after 15 more persons who were mandatorily quarantined by the government tested positive.

According to the Ghana Health Service, "The sudden spike in case incidence is as a result of the mandatory quarantine and compulsory testing for all travelers entering Ghana, as directed by the president.

"Overall, 30 of the 68 cases have been reported in the general population with the remaining 38 cases among persons currently under mandatory quarantine. As of 24 March, total of 1,030 persons are under mandatory quarantine; samples from 863 of them have been tested and 38 confirmed positive.

"Great majority of the confirmed cases are Ghanaians, who returned home from affected countries. Seven (7) are of other nationalities namely: Norway, Lebanon, China and UK.

"In respect of contact tracing, a total of 829 contacts have been identified and are being tracked.

"Total of 826 contacts have been enlisted and being tracked. Nineteen (19) people have completed the 14 days of mandatory follow up."

Expect confirmed cases of coronavirus to rise – Oppong Nkrumah

Information minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at a press conference, Tuesday, to update the country on government’s resolve to curb the pandemic sought to allay fears as he mentioned that it would be better for the Ghanaian people to rather observe the preventive measures instead of panicking.

He noted that “the general theory is that before you flatten the curve, you’re going to have a rise and as all your measures work, you begin to bring down and flatten the curve.”

“So we continue to encourage Ghanaians; do not panic, rather spend your time and your energy helping us to share the messages on the preventive etiquette. It’s better to spend your time to do things that prevent it than to panic,” he added.

Ghana's enhanced response

In his 3rd address to the nation, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 21 announced measures his government has put in place to fight the pandemic.

Among others, he mentioned that "all our borders, that is by land, sea and air, will be closed to human traffic for the next two weeks, beginning midnight on Sunday. Anybody who comes into the country, before midnight on Sunday, will be mandatorily quarantined and tested for the virus. This closure will not apply to goods, supplies and cargo."

"Secondly, the Ministry of Health will not only step up its contact tracing efforts, but will also see to it that all persons who have been identified as having come into contact with infected persons are tested for the virus. More personal protection equipment are being procured to beef up supplies for our frontline health workers. Fifty thousand additional test kits have been ordered, and are expected in the country very shortly."

Day of fasting and prayer

Ghana is turning to God in prayer over the dreaded novel Coronavirus pandemic which has so far killed two (2) persons out of the fifty-three (53) who have tested positive for the virus over the past couple of weeks.

In his 3rd address to the country, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged all religious bodies across the country to fast and pray on March 25 to seek the face of God as government does its part to curb the spread of the virus.

“Whilst we continue to adhere to these measures and ramp up our efforts to defeat this virus, I urge all of us also to seek the face of the Almighty.

"So on Wednesday, 25th March 2020, I appeal to all Ghanaians – Christians and Muslims to observe a national day of fasting and prayer. Let us pray to God to protect our nation and save us from this pandemic,” he said.