55 test positive for Covid-19 at Accra Girls’ SHS – Government

Fifty-five persons at the Accra Girls’ Senior High School including students and members of staff have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

According to a joint statement issued by Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Educations Service (GES), this was revealed after ‘containment measnures’ were put in place following the confirmation of the school’s first case on July 6, 2020.

The figure was determined after 314 persons in the institution were tested for the virus as 259 returned negative.

All confirmed cases have been transferred to designated national treatment and isolation centres for management.

Government has also outlined some actions take so far as part of measures to control the spread.

These include identification and segregation of contacts from other students, restriction of the number of students that attend dining at a particular time, enforcement of social distancing protocols, enhanced hand hygiene practices among others.

The statement further disclosed that “a few other schools have reported sporadic cases which have not experience a surge.”

It further explained that similar measures are being implemented in the respective institutions to prevent the spread of the virus in senior high schools across the country.

Read the full statement below

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13JULY, 2020

MEDIA RELEASE

JOINT STATEMENT FROM GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE AND GHANA HEALTH

SERVICE

UPDATE ON CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 IN SOME SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN
GHANA
Following the first report of COVID-19 cases in some Senior High Schools in the
country on 6th July, 2020, the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Education
Service instituted a number of measures to determine the extent of the outbreak
and containment measures. Accra Girls Senior High School has recorded most
cases from the first report to date. As at 13th July, 2020, a total of 314 persons
(student and staff) from the School have been tested. Out of these, 55 have
been confirmed positive for COVID-19 while 259 persons tested negative.
Actions taken so far:
• Identification and segregation of contact from other students
• Sample collection and laboratory testing of all contacts identified and
suspected cases
• All confirmed cases have been transferred to designated national
treatment and isolation centres for management
• Restriction of number of students that attend dining at a particular time
• Enforcement of social distancing protocols, enhanced hand hygiene
practices and the proper use of the facemask
• Disinfection of the entire school has been carried out
• Adequate PPEs have been provided to health staff stationed in the school
• Education on COVID-19 prevention and control has been intensified within
the school

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• Counselling and psychological support is being provided to the students
• The school has designated a quarantine and isolation centre
• Parents and guardians of affected student have been duly contacted
• Staff of the school have been reassured
Similarly, a few other schools have reported sporadic cases which have not
experience a surge. To prevent spread of COVID-19 in senior high schools across
the country, similar measures are being implemented.
Ghana Education Service working with Ghana Health Service wishes to inform
parents, guardians and the general public that efforts are being made to ensure
the safety of our staff and students.

SGN SGN
PROF. KWASI OPOKU-AMANKWA DR. PATRICK KUMA-ABOAGYE
DIRECTOR GENERAL, GES DIRECTOR GENERAL, GHS

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com