The Director-General at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has confirmed that the country has not recorded any positive case of the novel corona virus since the reopening of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
According to him, all passengers who have successfully touched down in the country have tested negative after series of tests.
Addressing Journalists in Accra, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said "So far we have not recorded any positive case and that is what our ultimate aim is. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that people arrive here negative and truly negative"
He added passengers are subjected to pre-arrival test adding it helps to confirm the status while on-board the airplane.
He explained that the country saw 217 people arriving from three different countries.
"Although I can not give an accurate number of people who have arrived and have gone through testing as Wednesday, I am confident that all of them are negative" he noted.
The Director-General stressed that full details of the tests conducted at the airport will be disclosed to the public soon.
Explaining the strict Covid-19 measures at the Airport, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said "Any passenger arriving in Ghana must be in possession of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin. The test should have been done not more than seventy-two (72) hours before the scheduled departure from the country of origin. All airlines have been instructed to ensure compliance with this directive for all passengers wishing to travel to Ghana, and those airlines who fail in this regard will be duly sanctioned"
He added passengers disembarking must ensure they are wearing face masks.
"Upon disembarking from the aeroplane, each passenger will undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport terminal, at a fee to be borne by the passenger. The test result will be available within thirty (30) minutes" he emphasized.
The Director General hinted that children under the ages of five (5) will not be required to undergo testing at the airport.
He also explained that passengers, who test positive for COVID-19, will be handled by the health authorities for further clinical assessment and management.
ThinkNews Online has gathered that passengers, who test negative, can, thereupon, enter Ghana to go about their lawful activities, and will be advised to continue to observe COVID-19 safety precautions during their stay in the country.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith