- "You may not know who the person is because of protocol issue of confidentiality, we have not disclosed those who are now positive, but we have some of us in that category."
Speaker of parliament Alban Bagbin has confirmed that some MPs have contracted COVID-19 following mandatory testing in the House.
He has, however, decided to withhold the names of the MPs who have contracted the viral disease to respect their confidentiality.
The parliamentary chamber is currently closed to visitors with about half of MPs directed to follow proceedings online.
Addressing the House on Friday, Bagbin also expressed his displeasure at members of parliament who have failed to undergo the mandatory medical screening and coronavirus test.
He said so far about 60 legislators are yet to comply with his directive to conduct a mandatory COVID-19 test.
“My directive that all members subject themselves to COVID-19 test has not been complied with by about 60 members of parliament. It is true as the majority leader has stated that we are all not safe, even in the House some members are afflicted by COVID-19,” Bagbin said.
He added: “You may not know who the person is because of protocol issue of confidentiality, we have not disclosed those who are now positive, but we have some of us in that category.”
He further urged lawmakers to ensure they strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
Meanwhile, the business committee of parliament has recommended that the House should take steps to reduce the number of staff who report to work and also curtail visits to the House.
Presenting the business statement before the House for the following week, chairman of the business committee Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also requested the clerk of parliament to liaise with the dean of parliamentary press corps to reduce the number of media personnel covering proceedings in the House.
Case Update
At least 13 more persons have died of COVID-19 increasing Ghana’s death toll to 390, official figures on Thursday reveal. According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), 625 new cases have also been confirmed taking the active case count to 3,940.
This brings Ghana’s official caseload to 63, 883 out of which 59, 553 have recovered and been discharged.
Airport cases
A total of 1,096 cases have been detected at the Kotoka International Airport since it was reopened September last year to human traffic. The GHS reports that 601 international passengers have since recovered.
At the moment, the country is reporting 98 and 35 severe and critical cases respectively but none is on a ventilator, according to the GHS.
Regional case breakdown
Greater Accra Region – 37,117
Ashanti Region – 11,895
Western Region – 3,392
Eastern Region – 2,779
Central Region – 2,245
Volta Region – 896
Bono East Region – 806
Western North Region – 695
Northern Region – 672
Bono Region – 654
Upper East Region – 577
Ahafo Region – 539
Oti Region – 246
Upper West Region – 186
Savannah Region – 63
North East Region – 25
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