55 staff of Asamankese govt Hospital test negative for coronavirus

All fifty-five (55) staff of Asamankese Government Hospital and a CHPs compound at Pabi who came into contact with an index case have all tested negative.

The West Akyem Municipality in the Eastern Region recorded its first confirmed case being a 34-year-old woman at Pabi, a farming community few weeks ago.

Before the confirmation, many staff had come into contact with the patient while providing healthcare for her.

Meanwhile, Starr News has gathered that results of about 30 contacts traced in the Pabi community will be released by midday.

Eastern region has recorded 95 confirmed cases as of May 5,2020. Out of the number, five are health workers.

The five health workers were among 115 health workers exposed to positive contacts in the region hence quarantined and being tested

Many facilities in the Eastern Region are still struggling to get the full complement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers in spite of individual, institutional and group donations and some few distributions by the Ghana Health Service.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the tax waivers for health workers in March and further said frontline health workers would get 50 per cent of their basic salary as an additional allowance, tax-free.

The tax waiver on personal emoluments will cost the nation GH¢237.5 million whilst that on additional allowances will amount to GH¢51 million.

Parliament subsequently approved the waiver amounting to total GH¢288.644 million, to help cushion health workers in both public and private health facilities, who are on the frontline fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Apart from these, the government has secured insurance packages for frontline health workers.