Frontline police officers in Ghana to undergo mandatory coronavirus test
London, April 22, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Police hierarchy in Ghana have concluded plans to place its men and officers who were used to enforce the Operation COVID-19 lockdown will be undergoing a mandatory test in the coming days.
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The Ghana Police during the three weeks of partial lockdown in Greater Accra, Greater Kumasi and Tema released personnel who worked with the Military to ensure that the orders of the President were adhered to.
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In a memo sighted by a Ghanaian news website, MyNewsGh.com, officers who were used for the operation have been asked to hold themselves in waiting for Doctors from the Ghana Police Hospital in Accra who will pick their samples for testing.
The memo said it’s imperative that the Police while waiting will ensure that they adhere to all precautionary protocols in order to keep them safe.
Ghana ended its partial lockdown on Monday, April, 20 after the government announced that it has understood the dynamics of the disease and have devised various strategies to help contain the disease.
Ghana has recorded 1042 positive cases of COVID-19 and 99 recovery cases. More than 60,000 people whose samples were collected through contact tracing and other enhanced testing approaches have tested negative for the virus
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Risk Communication and Social Mobilisation Committee of COVID-19, Dr Aboagye da Costa says stigma has become one of the major challenges in the fight against the virus in the country.
It comes after staff of the Fanteakwa government hospital in the Eastern region are reportedly being shunned by their communities after a patient tested positive of covid-19 there.
Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Tuesday, Dr. Aboagy Da Costa said his outfit will take immediate steps to address the concerns in the district.
“Stigma has become one of the main concerns as we combat covid-19. We don’t need to stigmatise because we are all at risk. We need to help the victims and not stigmatise. I will immediately get in touch with the regional and district directorate so they can pick it up and address it,” he assured.
He, however, encouraged the hospital staff not to be discouraged by the situation since they have sworn to protect the people.
