Claim: Ghana confirms two cases of the deadly coronavirus
Source: Minister for Health Kwaku Agyeman-Manu
Verdict: TRUE
By: Rabiu Alhassan
Ghana’s Minister for Health has confirmed two cases of the deadly coronavirus or COVID-19 in the country on Thursday, March 12.
Kwaku Agyeman-Manu made the announcement at an emergency press conference streamed live via the Ministry of Information verified Facebook account at 10:07 pm in the night.
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“Both individuals returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey. So, these are imported cases of COVID-19.” The minister revealed.
Laboratory results of the two confirmed cases were received from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, one of two coronavirus testing labs in the country.
According to the minister, both patients are currently being kept in isolation and are stable while the health ministry initiates processes for contact tracing.
“I wish to assure all Ghanaians that the Government of Ghana together with all health partners will continue to work assiduously to ensure the situation is contained,” Kwaku Agyeman-Manu assured.
Precautionary measures
He encouraged Ghanaians to take care of their health and be adhering to precautionary measures including:
- Regular and thorough washing of hands with soap under running water and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
- Avoid shaking of hands
- Keep a distance of at least two meters from a person with fever, cough, sneezing and difficulty in breathing.
- Be physically active, drink plenty of water, eat healthy, avoid stress and have enough sleep.
- Stay home if you feel unwell with symptoms of fever, cough and difficulty in breathing and call 0509497700 or 0558439868 immediately.
Ghana commits $100m to fight Coronavirus
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo announced plans to allocate $100 million to enhance Ghana’s Coronavirus preparedness and response plan on March 11.
Delivering an address to the nation the President said the money will, “fund expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education.”
He explained that with the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of the Coronavirus disease as “a pandemic”, it is important that Ghana steps up its preparedness.
The President earlier had directed a temporary suspension of all international travels by public officials except for critical assignments, which will have to be authorized by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President.
He further urged Ghanaians “as much as possible, desist from all foreign travels, except the most critical ones, until there is a grip on the virus.”
13 African countries confirm coronavirus cases
Ghana now joins twelve other African countries with confirmed Coronavirus cases.
The others include Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Senegal, South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, Togo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burkina Faso
Egypt that has a total of 67 confirmed cases, the highest number on the continent and has also recorded one death, according to the WHO Situation report 52 on the global spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) released on March 12, 2020.
Globally there are 125,048 confirmed cases and 4,613 deaths as of March 12.
