AGISS: 55 Staff & Students Test Positive For COVID-19 Out Of 314 - GES
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has indicated that 55 out of 314 students and staff that were tested for COVID-19 after contact tracing at Accra Girls Senior High School have come out positive.
Prof Kwasi Opoku Amankwah, Director-General of GES in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' said the 55 are currently being treated and the remaining 259 who tested negative have resumed work.
He further indicated that there is a Guidance and Counselling Unit in the school to educate the students and staff in a bid to avoid stigmatisation.
Asked whether the contact tracing has gone beyond the school to the homes of those who tested positive, he said that will be determined by the GHS.
"We have only informed the parents of the students who tested positive . . . if a parent has not been called it means your ward was not included," he said, urging parents and guardians with their children in school to be calm.
GES and GHS joint statement
Meanwhile, a joint statement from the GES and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) claims measures have been put in place to determine the extent of the outbreak and containment measures following reports of cases in some second cycle schools.
Meanwhile actions taken so far include;
“Identification and segregation of contact from other students; Sample collection and laboratory testing of all contacts identified and suspected cases.
Restriction of number of students that attend dining at a particular time;
Enforcement of social distancing protocols, enhanced hand hygiene practices and the proper use of the facemask;
Disinfection of the entire school has been carried out;
Adequate PPEs have been provided to health staff stationed in the school;
Education on COVID-19 prevention and control has been intensified within the school;
Counselling and psychological support is being provided to the students;
The school has designated a quarantine and isolation centre;
Parents and guardians of affected student have been duly contacted
Staff of the school have been reassured.
Similarly, a few other schools have reported sporadic cases which have not experience a surge. To prevent spread of COVID-19 in Senior High Schools across the country, similar measures are being implemented
Ghana Education Service working with Ghana Health Service wishes to inform parents, guardians and the general public that efforts are being made to ensure the safety of our staff and students.”
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