Western North Region records first positive case of Coronavirus
The Western North Region which was recently carved out of the Western Region has recorded its first case of coronavirus.
The case which was confirmed by the Western North Regional Director of Health, Dr. Marione Oko Owusu, involves a Ghanaian employee with Chirano Gold Mine – a mining company in Chirano – in the Bibiani Anwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region. The patient had his sample taken to the Kumasi Center for Collaborative research (KCCR), which tested positive on Wednesday 22nd April 2020. The patient is currently being managed in a health facility in the Municipality.
Dr. Marine Okoh Owusu assured residents in the region to remain calm as the case is being managed well. According to her, the directorate together with other stakeholders are working to ovoid the spread of the disease to other parts of the region.
“As we speak now, we have a confirmed case of coronavirus. This was confirmed yesterday ,after we took samples to the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR) we have started all the needed contact tracing, the wife and the children of the patient have all been quarantined, we are working to ensure the case does not spread to other parts of the region so the patient is currently being managed in isolation, “She noted
The company, Chirano Gold Mine, where the patient works, has also released a statement to confirm the case.
“This morning we learned that a presumptive case of COVID-19 involving one of our employees was confirmed as positive after a PCR test conducted at KCCR. The employee was transported offsite on the April 18th and currently clinically stable. Our doctors are collaborating with the district health directorate on the case management, contact tracing and other related issues to effectively keep the situation under control. Chirano is taking strict measures in accordance to our threshold and action response plan and cooperating with government health authorities to prioritise and protect the health and safety of our employees, contractors and community. Consistent with the latest update, on COVID19 restrictions issued on April 18th, the lock down status of the Chirano Mine premises and all other measures communicated therein remain in effect. Parts of the statement indicated.
The statement further indicated that, “site contact tracing has been conducted and a total of 63 employees have been identified and placed on mandatory self-isolation and monitoring.”
