Coronavirus escapee found roaming at Birim North

Officials of Ghana Health Service (GHS) are tracing contacts of a Covid-19 escapee who ran away from a treatment Center in Ga East Municipality to hide at Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

The escapee spent days in the community before his whereabouts was established little over a week ago.

The COVID-19 patient visited the New Abirim Government Hospital as a hypertensive patient and went for review subsequently.

The escapee was recaptured and evacuated from the community through a collaborative effort by Health Officials from Ga East and Birim North District and transferred for isolation.

He was immediately transferred to the isolation and treatment Center at the Eastern Regional Hospital.

Health workers have since begun contact tracing with the help of an information van announcing to persons who had contact with the escapee to show up for samples to be taken.

Through the help of the Chief in the community, many samples have been taken and sent to Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research for testing.

The affected persons have been asked to self-isolate until the results are released creating anxiety in the community.

Health workers who had contact with the escapee have also been quarantined while awaiting sample test results.

The District Chief Executive for Birim North, Raymond Nana Damptey confirmed to situation to Starr News but refused to give details on phone.

However, the District Health Director Thomas Azarugo told Starr News that the health Directorate is awaiting results of samples sent for testing, to inform the next line of action.

Birim North has recorded one confirmed case of Covid-19 out of the Eastern Regional tally of 166.