Covid-19: Suspected case in Keta tests negative

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A reported case of the deadly Covid-19 in the Keta Municipality in the Volta region has tested negative, a test result from the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research has revealed.

According to the Municipal Chief Executive of Keta, Godwin Edudzi Effah, authorities of the assembly have been informed about the test results by the Volta regional health directorate on Monday, April 6.

The case is of a 41-year old man and a resident of Tema, who was onboard a Korean owned fishing vessel called Sankofa for 37 days, as a cook.

Information available indicates that the man was ditched and handed over to local fishermen from Abutiakorpe in the municipality, on Thursday, April 2, by the crew on board the vessel after a heated argument with his boss.

The vessel was said to have 35 Ghanaians, a Chinese and a Korean onboard.

But upon getting to the shore, he showed symptoms similar to the novel coronavirus thus was handed over to health authorities in the municipality, where he was put under quarantine.

The five other local fishermen were also directed to self-quarantine, while blood samples of the man was taken and forwarded to Accra for testing.

The incident, however, triggered fear and panic among residents of Keta and Anloga but the test results has since proved negative.

At a press briefing in Keta today, the MCE noted that the municipality has since taken steps to calm the fears of the public.

He noted that public education within the municipality would be intensified, while screening points would be mounted on the major roads leading to the municipality in order to minimize the possible importation of the virus into the area.

Meanwhile, the victim who is still in isolation is expected to complete the 14-day mandatory quarantine.

Source: Ghana | Starrfm.com.gh | Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu