The closed ENT clinic
A records staff at the Child Welfare Clinic of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
Management of the Regional Hospital has therefore closed down the clinic and two other units – antenatal care and the ear, nose and throat units.
The three units had been disinfected and other protocols effected to contain the infection.
Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Joseph Tambil, who confirmed the news, said early this week the female staff had mild symptoms of the disease.
“So she got tested and the result turned positive. Quickly, we started taking samples of people she worked with,” he said.
The medical director confirmed that the infected staff was also at the antenatal clinic and spent some time at the ear, nose and throat unit.
“We have taken the samples of all the staff of the units and closed down those departments and disinfected every surface.
“Hopefully we will be receiving the results of all the samples today to know the way forward,” he added.
He said the infected staff had been isolated and all other contacts and staff at the above mentioned units in the hospital had been asked to self-quarantine.
Asked when these units would be reopened for use, Dr. Tambil expressed uncertainty with how soon they could address the situation.
He noted that after receiving the results, there would be an assessment of the impact to determine when the units would be reopened.
It was gathered that a mass testing had been effected on all contacts, as the staff was said to operate a food vending business at the hospital.
The Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital is the Western Region’s health referral center. So far, the region has recorded a total of about 61 Covid-19 cases.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi