COVID19: Delay in releasing test results, a major setback to fight against virus
Western Region Deputy Director of Health, in charge of clinical care, Dr. Atsu Dudor has said one of the major setbacks to the fight against the coronavirus outbreak in the Western Region is the delay in releasing laboratory test results of suspected cases presented to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. Samples taken to Noguchi and KCCR from the Western Region have witnessed some continuous delays, making it difficult for the Regional Health Directorate to plan appropriately with the needed data.
The Western Region yesterday recorded eight more confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection, bringing the total number of positive cases in the region to nine. Dr. Atsu Dudor tell us the new positive cases had their samples being taken to Noguchi on April 21 and results were received on the 27th April 2020.
“We took the samples on 17th and Noguchi received them on 21st April, and we only received the results on 27th. That is 6 days difference. So, when you have that kind of scenarios, you can’t have that enough data to make projections. We need real time data to do that”
According to him, six of the new cases confirmed are with travel history; one of the positive cases recently returned from Kumasi whilst the other has no travel history. He says most of the patients have since showed no symptoms of the disease.
He has therefore called on all residents of the region to adhere to precautionary measures spelt out by the Ghana Health Service to reduce spread.
