The Ghana Health Service (GHS) will undertake enhanced contact tracing and voluntary mass testing of high risk persons in Obuasi and its surrounding communities following the spike in COVID-19 in the area.
A 100-bed facility would soon be created to serve as an isolation centre for the infected persons. Kaya Spirits Giving an update on COVID-19 case management situation in Obuasi and Tema at the Minister’s briefing, on Tuesday, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, the Head of Disease Surveillance Department of the GHS, said the Male Ward of the Obuasi Government Hospital was currently being used as an isolation centre for treatment.
Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said the decision was reached when the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, led a high-powered delegation, last week, to assess the situation on the ground.
He said the first COVID-19 case in Obuasi was recorded on March 13; and second case was on March 29.
Since then, 109 contacts had been traced for the first case; while 17 had been done for the second case.
However, an infected trader from Hohoe, who operated at the Obuasi Central Market, unknowingly infected persons who transacted business with him, thereby resulting in a spike in transmission between April 21 and 25, with 72 per cent of infections recorded within that period.
Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said before the GHS Team arrived in the Obuasi Municipality, there significant collaboration among the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Obuasi East District, AngloGold Ashanti and other relevant stakeholders in the area, towards putting the necessary structures in place to contain the virus.
Additionally, health workers from adjoining districts, including Adansi South, Adansi Asokwa and Adansi North had joined forces with the Obuasi Municipality to help address the pandemic in the area.
To address the situation more effectively, Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said all those who had contacts with the infected persons would be re-tested, while it strengthened the enhanced contact tracing in high densely populated communities such as Brahabobome, Tutuka, Obuasi Central Market, Ayinem, Asokore and Kunka.
Also, high risk workers, such as commercial drivers and food vendors would undergo voluntary mass testing for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Ghana recorded 183 new cases of COVID-19 between May 16 and 17, bringing the total number to 5,918, with 1,754 recoveries and 31 deaths.There are, however, five persons who are critically ill, but with none on a ventilator.