By Mudasiru Abdul Yakeen, Nkawkaw
The Kwahu West Municipal Health Director, Celestina Asante, has confirmed that three babies in Nkawkaw, Eastern Region, have contracted the novel coronavirus disease.
She said it is still, however, unclear how the babies, aged two years, one year and six-months got infected while their mothers with whom they live under one roof tested negative.
Speaking to the media, Ms Asante said the confirmed cases of the babies should inform mothers to be mindful of those they leave their babies with during these unusual times.
Community spread
She further expressed concern over the soaring community spread of cases with infected patients in the area who are mostly asymptomatic. Ms Asante added that the community spread is fast becoming an issue.
“Thankfully, all the infected persons are in stable conditions. The age range of the adults is between 25 and 50 years,” she added.
She was also worried about the community spread, saying it is glaring issue that must be addressed to help stop the spread of the disease.
The area, which recorded its first three positive cases less than a month ago, now has 30 confirmed cases, at the time of filing this report.
Positive cases in police cells
Also, the Lower West Akyem Municipal Health Director, Dr Samuel Boateng, has confirmed that four inmates in Asamankese police cells, also in the Eastern Region, have tested positive for Covid-19.
Dr Boateng indicated that the samples of the inmates were taken when health officials embarked on a disinfection exercise of the Asamankese police station a few weeks ago.
“The decision was taken to take some samples of the 10 inmates in the cell when Zoomlion undertook the disinfection exercise of the Asamankese police station. So yes, the story is true that some inmates have contracted the pandemic,” he affirmed.
All the cases, he indicated, are asymptomatic and have all been quarantined in the female cell.
“They have been isolated at the female cell, which is currently not keeping any inmates,” he disclosed
Restrictions on mass testing
Meanwhile, the Central Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has directed all health facilities and districts to desist from mass testing of any group of individuals unless they are authorised by the Director-General.
A statement signed by Regional Director, Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu-Sarpong, said this is to ensure effective coordination in “specimen collection and early retrieval of results.” According to her, “all facilities and districts are to contact the Regional Biomedical Scientist at the Regional Health Directorate before specimens are collected.”
The region has so far recorded 694 cases, making it the fourth with the highest number of cases in the country.
Mrs Owusu-Sarpong explained that the directives are to strengthen routine surveillance for Covid-19.
According to her, specimens of suspected persons should only be taken for Covid-19 testing when the case satisfies the approved case definitions.
Kwadaso testing
In a related development, about 200 workers of the Kwadaso SDA Hospital in Kumasi are being tested for the virus after the Medical Director of the facility, Dr Harry Owusu Boateng, died of Covid-19. The 48-year-old died at home on Saturday, few days after he complained of being unwell.
The Director of Ghana Adventist Health Services, Dr Paul Amo Kyeremeh, who confirmed the story, said the physician tested positive after his death.
Ghana’s case count now stands at 12,590, following the confirmation of 397 new cases. The death toll now stands at 66, recoveries at 4,410 with 8114 active cases.
