The Berekum Midwifery and Nursing Training School in the Bono Region has been shut down after two students tested positive for COVID-19, health officials said.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show, the presidential advisor on health, Dr Nsiah Asare, disclosed that at least 87 persons have also tested positive following contact tracing in connection with the outbreak at the school.
“As at last two weeks we had a scare at Berekum Midwifery and Nursing Training School. I understand one of the students, who is in school had a visitor from his hometown, Duayaw Nkwanta, which was not supposed to be allowed, went to visit him and told him that he had COVID, but has recovered. Two days later, the student started having symptoms and I understand the student had a friend there that also started having symptoms and they were all isolated and tested positive,” he said.
According to him, the college remains shut in order to manage the spread of the virus as they intensify the contact tracing.
“And about 87 of their contacts have also tested positive, so that explains the jump in active cases, especially from Bono Region, it is a low-burden area but all of a sudden we had 89 people adding to the numbers.
“Also, in Bolga we had 19 positive cases there, both situations have been contained now, now all the students have been locked up. We locked the school down and nobody is going and coming out. We are testing everybody, so this I know will be contained,” Dr. Asare stated.
No second wave
The presidential advisor on health also refuted claims suggesting that Ghana is heading into a second wave of the coronavirus following the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
“I don’t believe there is a second wave or surge,” Dr. Asare emphasised.
Ghana has so far recorded 48,200 COVID-19 cases, resulting in 320 deaths, with active cases standing at 620.
Fred Dzakpata
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