Some Ghanaians who have been in mandatory quarantine for about two days now after landing in the country following the President’s directive are yet to be tested for the novel coronavirus.
President Akufo-Addo earlier announced that the government will begin a mandatory quarantine of all travellers arriving in Ghana from Saturday regardless of nationality.
“Everyone who comes into the country before Sunday will be mandatorily quarantined and tested for the virus,” he said in an address to the nation on Saturday evening.
This is to limit the situation where cases are imported into the country and spread among the public.
Currently, 24 cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Ghana, with one death recorded.
The President’s directive was immediately put into action, with military personnel escorting all travellers who landed in the country to various hotels to observe a 14-day isolation period to test for the virus.
Narrating his ordeal to Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show, one of the quarantined travellers, whose name was given as Kofi, who returned from Amsterdam on Saturday, disclosed that he had not yet been tested for COVID-19 as his samples had not yet been taken.
“At the airport, I was told they would come and take our samples and test us. If it is negative, they will counsel you for a number of days and ask you to go to self-quarantine. If it turns out to be positive, then they will keep you. They have not come for our samples. Yesterday evening, a Professor from Korle Bu told us they will be coming today but wasn’t specific as to the exact time they will come. He went on to explain the symptoms that we should be expecting,” he said.
Even though he commended the good services he was receiving at the hotel, he complained about how they were handled at the airport before being sent to the hotel.
“The way we were grouped at the airport wasn’t pleasant. Even at where we came from, at the airport, we were urged to keep a distance from each other. Even onboard the flight, we were sitting in a dispersed manner. They didn’t want us to get close. But unfortunately, when we came to Ghana and we were going to board the buses, we were just crumpled in a way, being pushed around to go here and there. Some of us were a bit worried so I had to stay back for a while. I was one of those who was picked last.”
“Initially, the hotel they brought us to wasn’t prepared. I don’t think they were informed so it was quite chaotic there. Everybody wanted to get a room. It took a while before we got our rooms. I got my room close to 2 am. And the rest couldn’t get space so a bus came back for them and sent them to another hotel,” he observed.
Kwame, who also touched down from Ethiopia also had no knowledge of when he will be tested.
He noted that since he was sent to the hotel, no official had come to offer him any information as to what was going on.
“Generally, the atmosphere is okay. But my reservation is just with the lack of information. There is a need for them to engage us and tell us what we are about. How many days will be spending in quarantine? Because our families will be expecting us at home. There is a need for us to communicate with them as well. I would like to commend the government for the step in curtailing the spread of this pandemic. Government has attached much importance to this. But at least information is all we want,” he lamented.
Travel protocols
Ghana had previously announced new travel protocols when the detected cases of COVID-19 stood at seven.
Travellers who had been in coronavirus-hit countries with cases exceeding 200 within the 14 days preceding their arrival were to be barred from entering the country.
The admissible travellers who exhibit symptoms of the novel coronavirus were to be quarantined and tested upon reaching Ghana.
The government said airlines had been instructed not to allow such persons into the country.
It also said travel to Ghana was strongly discouraged.
MPs asked to quarantine
Eight Members of Parliament have been told to self-quarantine after recent trips abroad on national assignments.
The Speaker of Parliament who made the announcement today [Monday], failed to name the eight MPs.
Prof. Mike Oquaye while addressing the House said, the MPs in question were following advice and instructions of a medical doctor and the clerk to Parliament.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu however, in giving some details about the MPs involved said contrary to claims, the MPs were not being held in mandatory quarantine in a hotel in Accra.
Last week, two MPs and five parliamentary service staff who travelled outside the country recently were also ordered to be in self-quarantine for the mandatory 14-day period before returning to work.
The MPs involved are Binduri legislator, Dr. Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem and Ayawaso East lawmaker, Mahama Nasser Toure.