Some 78 people who are believed to have come into close contact with the individual who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) in the Bono Region have been quarantined.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) regional directorate said their samples had been taken for testing at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR).
The Regional Director of GHS, Dr. Kofi Issah, told the media at a press briefing in Sunyani that the contacts included immigration officers, police personnel and court officials.
He said the positive patient was in an isolation facility at Sampa, while health authorities were awaiting results of the 78 primary contacts.
Dr. Issah explained that so far 583 suspected cases had been recorded in the Bono Region. Out of that, 202 samples were tested for Covid-19, with 128 results received, of which one is positive.
He said 74 results were still outstanding but assured the public that advance and strict surveillance had been put in place to halt any further spread.
Dr. Issah said since the first case was announced, the regional health emergency response teams, in collaboration with the district heath response team in Jaman North, have started enhanced contact tracing.
The Bono Region recorded its index case of the coronavirus (Covid-19) infection in the last GHS update of the country’s case management.
The GHS said the Covid-19 infection was detected in the Jaman North District of the Bono Region.
The positive case is said to involve one of 11 Togolese and Ivoirians running away from neighbouring La Cote d’Ivoire to Togo through unapproved routes on the border with Ghana at Sampa, who were arrested by security operatives and the health authorities.
danielyaodayee@yahoo.com
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani