Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Oko-Boye, has disclosed that six new Covid-19 cases have been recorded at the Kotoka International Airport since its reopening.
According to him, the first case was identified and recorded on Friday with the subsequent ones being recorded on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Speaking in an interview, he noted that the positive tested passengers had reported with a negative PCR test from their various countries of origin.
He insisted that these cases were detected because of the $150 Covid-19 test government insisted on for travelers.
“All our troubles in Ghana started with just about four or five cases. So, really those who are talking about $150, if we had gone for a compromised technology and those with negative PCR tests had slipped in, all we need is one gentleman who is positive with a viral load, that is huge, visit us in this country and we are back to a lockdown.”
Among other directives, travellers had been tasked to take a PCR test 72 hours prior to visiting the country and also undergo a $150 antigen test after landing.
In spite of several concerns raised over the pricy nature of the tests, Dr. Oko-Boye intimated that it was a decent amount to pay.
“I always say that the alternative, that is having one person slip in with the virus, is so serious, too grave to contemplate. Remember that we didn’t go in for the product and the price, smiling and all excited”.
He further explained that, government had chucked out the busing of travellers to hotels as this will compound their woes considering the $150 test they would have to pay in addition.
“When KLM arrived at the airport, on September 1, they were supposed to use the previous arrangement which was two weeks quarantine. All of them had paid for hotel bills but guess what, there were fifty passengers who offered to pay $150 because they had negative PCR tests. For them, time is too expensive to spend two weeks in a hotel watching TV.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Bernard Oko-Boye has stated that as at September 3, 2020, Ghana’s active Covid-19 case count now stands at 785.
The government’s effectiveness according to him, explains the decline in Covid cases and as such, this feat was attained without the help of any special drug to combat Covid-19 in patients.
The Deputy Health Minister was confident that continued compliance with the protocols will greatly contribute to further lower new cases.
“I am very optimistic that with the way things are looking we will continue to go on the downward trend. When you’re on the path that is producing results, the smartest thing to do is to continue on the same path. So we encourage people not to be tired of the protocols; that’s what we have now. We are doing well, not with any special drug, but with the protocols.
“So if the protocols are making you go on this path it is in our interest to continue, and I encourage people to wear the mask, it’s cheaper, always cheaper, but the cost of going through morbidity; that’s sickness and other consequences is too grave to consider,” he concluded.
