At least four senior high schools in the Volta Region have recorded positive cases of the novel coronavirus.
The schools include Mawuli School and Mawuko Girls’ Senior High School in Ho, the Bishop Herman College in Kpando and Dabala Senior High Technical School in South Tongu.
This was made known by sources in the Regional Education and Health Directorate.
The cases were recorded after the partial re-opening of schools for final year students to prepare for their exams.
Although the Regional Health Directorate is tight-lipped on the details, DGN Online has gathered that as at Sunday July 12, 2020 10 cases had been confirmed at the Mawuli School while three cases have been confirmed at Dabala SHTS as at last Friday July 10, 2020. As at that same Friday, two cases had been confirmed at Bishop Herman College with a case at Mawuko Girls’ SHS.
School authorities have also refused to speak on the details but only assured that the situation was under control and the student were safe and being well catered for.
A source from one of the schools has also praised the public health emergency management team for their swift response to the cases so far.
The source added that sample collection for testing and contact tracing had commenced while parents and guardians have been engaged to get them acquainted with the situation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kwesi Djokoto, the Deputy Regional Director in-charge of Public Health, has assured all stakeholders that the students and staff are safe, hence no need for any fear and panic.
“We have expected that from the day of re-opening to the first three to four weeks, infections may be recorded as we have over 50,000 students from various locations returning to schools in Volta and Oti region put together.”
“With such a number, infection may occur, but what is important is that, our systems are designed to detect them (infections) in time to allow for sample collection and contact tracing as well as other measures to contain the situation.”
He assured that the situation is being monitored closely and “we will ensure that our children who are already safe continue to be safe and have the right frame of mind to write and pass their examination.”
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com)