Ghana coronavirus: 26,125 cases; over 2,000 health workers infected

Ghana is West Africa’s most impacted nation behind Nigeria, at a point in May 2020, Ghana led the regional case load. June has started with progressive lifting of more virus restrictions.

President Akufo-Addo in his tenth address announced that whiles borders remained closed, some categories of academic institutions are allowed to resume, religious places can also reopen with strict conditions and the observance of health protocols.

Social gatherings -weddings, funerals etc. – are to be allowed under certain conditions – among others with maximum 100 participants. As the 2020 polls loom, even political activity is allowed to be undertaken.

July 17: 26,125 cases; health workers infected

Over 2,000 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 since the index case was recorded in he country, head of the Ghana Health Service disclosed on Thursday.

Patrick Kuma-Aboagye added that six out of a total of 2,065 workers have since succumbed to the virus whiles 1,870 others had recovered. The rest are under treatment at isolation centres.

The Greater Accra region, which includes the capital city, has recorded the highest number of infections among health workers. The region accounts for over 50% of the caseload with 14,391 cases.

Health workers have long called for more protection as they work in the front line of the virus combat. Government has announced tax breaks and other perks. Ghana is one of few African countries where health officials have not gone on strike over conditions of service. Records indicate that Ghana has so far conducted 339,491 COVID-19 tests.

• Confirmed cases = 26,125
• Active cases = 3,716
• Recoveries = 22,270
• Number of deaths = 139

John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of July 16, 2020

July 13: 24,518 cases; recoveries pass 20,000

Ghana’s case load at close of the weekend stood at 24,518 but worthy of note was the fact that recoveries had hit the 20,000 mark. The Ghana Health Service reported 20,187 recoveries with 139 deaths. The active cases stood at 4,192.

The recovery rate is one of the highest across the continent. Especially comparing it with countries whose case load has passed the 10,000 mark.

The back and forth surrounding the reopening of secondary schools and the ongoing voter registration exercise continues. Despite infections in a number of schools, the government insists the final year students are set to write the West African Examination Council, WAEC; papers.

The Electoral Commission, EC; in a statement over the weekend stressed its commitment to enforcing virus protocols across the country as it registers voters for a new voter roll ahead of December 2020 polls.

“Safety of applicants is foremost in the registration process and the Commission will go any length to observe the measures outline by the Ghana Health Service.

“The Commission reiterates its commitment to the safety protocols and urges applicants to collaborate with registration officials by observing safety protocols, which include wearing face masks, washing hands, checking temperature and sanitizing hands before and after the registration exercise in order to keep safe,” an EC statement of July 11 read in part.

• Confirmed cases = 24,518
• Active cases = 4,192
• Recoveries = 20,187
• Number of deaths = 139

Ghana Health Service stats valid as of July 12, 2020 

July 9: 22,822 cases; 90% Education Ministry staff infected

Education Minister Mathew Opoku Prempeh on Wednesday disclosed on a local radio station that 90% of staff at the Ministry had tested positive for COVID-19.

According to him, a mass testing regime was implemented after he tested positive for the virus weeks back and was admitted to the leading virus treatment center in the capital, Accra.

He told Peace FM’s listeners: “After my second result came out as positive, testing was conducted on all staff at the ministry and the results showed that out of every 50 persons, about 45 had contracted the virus. Most of them are asymptomatic so they are isolating at home.

“For all the 52 years of my life, I’ve never been admitted to the hospital before and it was not a pleasant experience. The disease is very real and I don’t wish it on even my foe,” he said.

The Ghana Education Service, GES, is however adamant that senior high schools will remain open and also conduct terminal examination for final year students. THis is despite advice by the medical association to the contrary.

“We’re going ahead with the WASSCE, we’ve not received any directive to hold on. We are going to conduct the exams and WAEC is preparing for that.”

“We have holding rooms in all the schools and we have trained health personnel there so when they come across any COVID-19 symptoms, the person is isolated. We have also mapped all schools to a health facility,” GES PRO told local media.

• Confirmed cases = 22,822
• Active cases = 5,129
• Recoveries = 17,564
• Number of deaths = 129

Ghana Health Service stats valid as of July 9, 2020

July 8: 21,968 cases; CJ self-isolates, ministry closes

Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has gone into self-isolation according to local media portals. The Judicial secretary in a statement said the CJ was doing so “in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.”

President Akufo-Addo is still isolating after he was exposed to the virus over the weekend. Education and Health Ministers have been released from the University of Ghana Medical Center, UGMC; where they were receiving virus treatment.

The call for high schools to close have been heightened after Accra Girls Senior High School recorded infections earlier this week. The minority in parliament is calling for the closure of schools whiles the reported virus-related death of a student has led to the dismissal of a school head in the Ashanti region.

Employees of the Ministry of Finance have been asked to work from home as the ministry waits for results of tests taken by all staff. An internal memo to all staff said staff who test positive for the virus will be informed “and will receive the necessary care from appropriate health authorities designated by the Minister of Health.”

“In view of the preparations towards the mid-year review of the budget, a core team of staff will work from approved location to complete the Mid-Year Review,” the memo also noted.

While the Finance Ministry is taking a precautionary measure, other outfits like the Ghana Cocoa Board’s Accra office was closed after infections as was the case with Tema office of the Ghana Grid Company, GridCo; and the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited, BOST.

Meanwhile, a one-time Finance Minister and current “Senior Minister” at the office of the president Yaw Osafo-Maafo became the latest top government official to test positive for the virus, government confirmed his infection on Tuesday.

• Confirmed cases = 21,968
• Active cases = 4,683
• Recoveries = 17,156
• Number of deaths = 129

John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of June 12, 2020

July 6: 20,085; prez self-isolates

The number of cases in the country passed the 20,000 mark. Only the fourth African country to hit that figure – behind South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria.

Ghana has thus consolidated its place as Africa’s fourth most-impacted country. Recoveries are heading to the 15,000 mark whiles deaths are at 122 according to records released on Sunday, July 5.

President Akufo-Addo is on self-isolation after a close aide tested positive for COVID-19, the information ministry announced over the weekend.

Parents have thronged a school in the capital Accra after reports emerged that six students of Accra Girls High School had contracted the virus. A batch of final year students resumed classes last week as government continued to ease lockdown measures.

Meanwhile, concerns continue to be raised over ongoing voter registration exercise which many fear could lead to spike in cases across the country. Most people visiting these centers have openly flouted mask wearing orders and physical distancing rules.

Total confirmed cases = 20,085
Total recoveries = 14,870
Total deaths = 122
Active cases = 5,093

Figures valid as of close of day July 5, 2020

July 2: 18,134 cases; protocol flouting in voter registration

The Electoral Commission insists it has done well in managing coronavirus safety protocols at registration centers amid ongoing voter registration exercise across the country.

The EC got the apex court’s go-ahead to conduct a new registration exercise after a case brought by the main opposition NDC was dismissed. Concerns continue to be raised over the conduct of people who went to centers to register.

Photos shared on social media showed that virus protocols were being flouted in many places with people crowded at some centers with disregard for basic social distancing. Most of them also did not have masks even though it is an offence per a presidential Executive Instrument.

Cases in the Greater Accra region have passed the 10,000 mark with the Ashanti region in a distant second with over 3,600 cases, the oil-rich Western Region completes the top three regions with over 1,550 cases as of today.