55 persons at the Accra Girls’ Senior High School including students and workers have tested positive for coronavirus.
According to a joint statement issued by Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Educations Service (GES), the latest figure from Accra Girls’ SHS was revealed after ‘containment measures’ 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 Accra Girls’ SHS 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.
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.
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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
• 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 PROF. KWASI OPOKU-AMANKWA
DIRECTOR GENERAL, GES
DR. PATRICK KUMA-ABOAGYE
DIRECTOR GENERAL, GHS
