Two foreign nationals on Wednesday reported at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital having developed some symptoms suspected to be coronavirus.
The patients, a Chinese and an Argentine who have been living together in the country for some days, have been isolated at the facility while blood samples taken have been sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), for further analysis.
Greater Accra Divisional Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Winifred Baah revealed on the PM Express on JoyNews Wednesday.
Dr Baah explained that the Chinese left the home country for Ghana sometime in September 2019 while the Argentine, who was in Shanghai, joined the Chinese in Ghana in January.
“They’ve all developed some symptoms that fit the case definition [but] it doesn’t mean they have the disease,” he clarified.
He said another round of testing is expected to be conducted on the two nationals Thursday.
He explained that the patients initially visited an unnamed private facility in the capital and reported the condition and were directed by the medical staff there to report to Korle Bu.
Dr Baah wants the authorities to adequately resource health facilities for them to properly prepare to handle the situation as well as manage communication among health workers.
Suspected Case at KIA
Earlier on the same programme, the National Coordinator for Port Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Dennis Laryea disclosed, health officers recently picked one person for testing after he showed symptoms of the virus at the Kotoka International Airport.
He said the individual was kept in isolation for about six hours while the result was being confirmed. Fortunately, he tested negative of the virus, Dr. Laryea added.
“The gentleman wasn’t very happy but he understood that we were doing this in the interest of public safety,” he said.
In a press statement signed by the Minister of Health (Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu), he said "As at 6th February,2O2O, there has been 28,28O confirmed cases and 565 deaths globally. Here in Ghana we have recorded 9 suspected cases including the recent 2 from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. All of these cases have tested negative.
We wish to provide assurance to the people of Ghana that the Government,
Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service working in collaboration with partners
are doing everything possible to prevent and protect against the importation of the virus into the country and prevent spread. We continue to advise citizens to remain calm"
Source: Joy News
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