The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye says 545 beds have been allocated across the country to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.
This follows the latest confirmation of 26 new coronavirus cases bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 53.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra today [Tuesday], Dr. Kuma Aboagye indicated that the Ministry of Health is procuring more of the beds to take care of COVID-19 patients.
“We are also ensuring that to build our capacity, all our staff who are currently on study leave have been called back. We also know that marines have been asked to come back and doctors who are awaiting their financial clearance are also being recruited to partake in this exercise. The Minister of Health had procured more beds to expand our capacity,” he said.
“We also have a response team trained across the whole region and all regions are doing downstream training including ambulance service staff and other people. Regions have identified treatment sites because this may extend to other regions so all regions have beds allocated. Currently, we have about 545 beds allocated across the country and it is expected that more would be identified. We may also look at other opportunities to create space to manage other cases.”
Cases in Ghana
The Ghana Health Service confirmed an additional positive case of COVID-19 in Ghana on Tuesday evening.
The newly confirmed case adds on to the previous 52 which was announced at a press briefing by the Minister of Health earlier today.
“As of 24 March 2020, a total of fifty-three (53) cases including two (2) deaths have been confirmed. All the fifty-one (51) confirmed cases are receiving treatment in isolation,” the statement from the Ghana Health Service said.
The statement from the Service said, “the sudden spike in case incidence is as a result of the mandatory quarantine and compulsory testing for all travellers entering Ghana, as directed by the President.”
Government to receive loan from IMF
Meanwhile, Ghana has turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The IMF in a press release disclosed that the government had requested a rapid credit facility disbursement.
IMF’s African Department Director, Abebe Aemro Selassie is quoted as saying: “Last week, the IMF received Ghana’s request for a disbursement under the Rapid Credit Facility to help the country address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
“We are working hard to evaluate the authorities’ request and bring it forward for Executive Board consideration as soon as possible,” the statement added.