Ghana clearing 12K backlog of COVID-19 test samples
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said Ghana’s laboratories have been tasked to process a backlog of over 12, 000 samples collected for testing for COVID-19.
He said in a tweet on Thursday that 12,000 will be in addition to the over 51,000 samples already tested as of Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
Contact-tracing teams and laboratory technicians were tasked to trace some initial 10,000 at-risk persons but have done five times more.
The enhanced testing programme makes Ghana the second-most aggressive country in testing for COVID-19 in Africa.
Experts say early testing is key in helping a country take control of the spread and contain in.
Analysts say the processing of the backlog should conclude the aggressive testing programme aimed determining Ghana’s infection rate to aid in decision making.
“Many thanks to the contact tracing teams and lab technicians for the aggressive work you are doing. You were tasked to find some about 10k at risk persons. You have done 5x that and so far 51k of your samples have been tested,” Mr Nkrumah disclosed.
The Minister also tweeted: “As you work round the clock to complete the processing of the extra about 12k backlog samples submitted, be encouraged that the nation is grateful for you service, Akpe Na Mi”.
Ghana has, so far, recorded 641 positive cases of the virus with 83 recoveries and 8 deaths. Having conducted 50,000 tests, Ghana’s infection rate is thought to be around 1.3%.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, in his last nation address on Ghana’s response, extended the imposition of restrictions in Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa for one more week to avoid community spread of the virus.
With an infection rate of about 1.3%, it remains unclear what the President’s decision will be moving forward.
Source: CLASS
