Passengers from China to be screened to prevent spread of Coronavirus

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced a series of measures it is taking to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Ghana including screening all passengers from China.

China has recorded cases of Coronavirus where nine persons have been reported dead.

“As part of measures to prevent an outbreak in Ghana, passengers from China will undergo enhanced screening procedures including the administration of health questionnaire. Health facilities have also been alerted to prepare and manage cases in case of outbreak,” a statement from the MoH noted.

The health authorities in China confirmed the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus in December, 2019 after a series of reported cases of pneumonia of unknown cause.

The outbreak was linked to a local animal market spread from animals to humans but has also been found to spread from one person to the other.

It can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneeze on another person.

Thailand, South Korea, Japan and the United Arab Emirates have also reported cases of the disease.

The statement signed by the sector minister; Kwaku Agyeman-Manu assured that Ghana has in-country capacity to diagnose the infection at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

Authorities have, however, cautioned the public to regularly wash their hands with soap and water, keep a distance from persons showing signs of fever and immediately seek treatment upon suspicion of infection.