Frontline police officers ordered to test for COVID-19

Some frontline police officers who were part of Operation COVID Safety, the security team that enforced order during the lockdown have been directed to test for the novel Coronavirus, the Ghana Police Service has said.

This, according to the police, is to identify police officers who might have come into contact with infected persons while enforcing the lockdown directive imposed on some parts of Greater Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi.

Superintendent Sheila Kesse Abayie-Buckman, Director of Public Affairs, Ghana Police Service, explained at a press conference on Wednesday that samples of these officers have been taken for testing, and officers who test positive for the Coronavirus will be given the needed treatment as soon as possible.

She said, “The mission is to test as many people as possible and the Police administration has taken the initiative for police officers who performed the specific duty to be tested.

“At the moment, some samples have been taken but due to delays and backlog of samples [we are waiting for results]. However, processes have started.”

Supt. Abayie-Buckman noted that the Ghana Police Service has already put up measures to salvage the situation should any of the officers test positive.

“At any point in time, you will find an officer undertaking an assignment that takes him or her off the road or out of the office. So, should anyone tests positive, it won’t be difficult at all for the officer’s health interests to be taken care of and for other police operations to run,” she said.

Ghana’s Coronavirus case count currently stands at 1,154.

Though the President lifted the partial lockdown on Accra, Kasoa, Kumasi and Tema, public gathering regulations, which include a ban on gatherings remains in place.