Ghana is West Africa’s most impacted nation behind Nigeria, at a point in May 2020, Ghana led the regional case load. June has started with progressive lifting of more virus restrictions.
President Akufo-Addo in his tenth address announced that whiles borders remained closed, some categories of academic institutions are allowed to resume, religious places can also reopen with strict conditions and the observance of health protocols.
Social gatherings -weddings, funerals etc. – are to be allowed under certain conditions – among others with maximum 100 participants. As the 2020 polls loom, even political activity is allowed to be undertaken.
This article will be focused on tracking case increases and major developments from the West African country. It will build on our April – May 2020 updates page.
July 17: 26,125 cases; health workers infected
Over 2,000 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 since the index case was recorded in he country, head of the Ghana Health Service disclosed on Thursday.
Patrick Kuma-Aboagye added that six out of a total of 2,065 workers have since succumbed to the virus whiles 1,870 others had recovered. The rest are under treatment at isolation centres.
The Greater Accra region, which includes the capital city, has recorded the highest number of infections among health workers. The region accounts for over 50% of the caseload with 14,391 cases.
Health workers have long called for more protection as they work in the front line of the virus combat. Government has announced tax breaks and other perks. Ghana is one of few African countries where health officials have not gone on strike over conditions of service. Records indicate that Ghana has so far conducted 339,491 COVID-19 tests.
Confirmed cases = 26,125
Active cases = 3,716
Recoveries = 22,270
Number of deaths = 139
John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of July 16, 2020
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July 13: 24,518 cases; recoveries pass 20,000
Ghana’s case load at close of the weekend stood at 24,518 but worthy of note was the fact that recoveries had hit the 20,000 mark. The Ghana Health Service reported 20,187 recoveries with 139 deaths. The active cases stood at 4,192.
The recovery rate is one of the highest across the continent. Especially comparing it with countries whose case load has passed the 10,000 mark.
The back and forth surrounding the reopening of secondary schools and the ongoing voter registration exercise continues. Despite infections in a number of schools, the government insists the final year students are set to write the West African Examination Council, WAEC; papers.
The Electoral Commission, EC; in a statement over the weekend stressed its commitment to enforcing virus protocols across the country as it registers voters for a new voter roll ahead
