- "Without exception, all travellers who test positive must be sent to a GHS-designated isolation facility as per our protocols for further clinical assessment and treatment. A negative PCR test must be repeated after Day 5. The passenger may be de-isolated following 2 negative tests."
Pressure group, OccupyGhana, has called on the government to restrict travel from and to countries with high COVID-19 cases following increasing rate of positive cases at the Kotoka International Airport.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Frontiers Healthcare Services (FHS), the firm mandated to conduct COVID-19 tests at the airport raised concerns after 75 positive cases were recorded in a day.
A statement issued by OccupyGhana said only Ghanaians who test positive from high-risk countries should be allowed into the country.
The statement further called for the provision of incentives to hotels to accept passengers from high-risk countries for quarantine at their own expense.
“Provide incentives to hotels to accept passengers from high-risk countries for quarantine. Travellers must pay hotel quarantine bills in full, prior to travel,” it said.
The statement added: “Without exception, all travellers who test positive must be sent to a GHS-designated isolation facility as per our protocols for further clinical assessment and treatment. A negative PCR test must be repeated after Day 5. The passenger may be de-isolated following 2 negative tests.”
Below is the full statement
RISING POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES AMONGST INBOUND TRAVELLERS AT KIA
OccupyGhana®️ has read with concern reports from Frontiers Services Limited, the Covid-19 Antigen testing lab based at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), about the sudden and alarming increase in positive cases arriving in the country over the past week.
According to a letter dated April 24, 2021 written by the lab to Ghana Airport Co Ltd., a record number of seventy-five (75) positive cases were detected on the April 24, 2021 at the airport. This is a significant rise from the previous high of forty-five (45) positive cases on April 21, 2021.
With the devastating effects of the 2nd COVID-19 wave at the beginning of the year still fresh in our minds we appeal to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to leave no stone unturned in reducing the importation of positive cases.
Judging by the terrible effects of the third wave of COVID -19 which has crippled health systems and led to the loss of thousands of lives in several countries, a third wave in Ghana with its new variants could be catastrophic.
Some of the problems we have identified are:
1.Travellers arriving in the country from high-risk countries;
- Travellers arriving with fake PCR test results;
- Non availability of quarantine facilities for large numbers of travellers;
- Hotels not willing to be used for quarantine purposes; and
- Some positive cases not willing to be isolated in GHS-designated isolation facilities.
Ghana’s pioneering introduction in August 2020 of compulsory antigen testing on arrival at KIA has without a doubt cut down the risk of importing new cases. We wish to make the following suggestions as an added level of precaution:
- As a matter of urgency, we must identify the high-risk countries and restrict travel to and from them. Citizens and residents of Ghana may be allowed entry, only if they test negative at KIA and are mandatorily quarantined for at least 10 days at their own cost;
- Provide incentives to hotels to accept passengers from high-risk countries for quarantine. Travellers must pay hotel quarantine bills in full, prior to travel;
- Without exception, all travellers who test positive must be sent to a GHS-designated isolation facility as per our protocols for further clinical assessment and treatment. A negative PCR test must be repeated after Day 5. The passenger may be de-isolated following 2 negative tests; and
- Prosecute travellers who are proven to have flown in with forged PCR results.
It is our fervent hope that the authorities will consider these matters and accept these suggestions as we continue to battle this virus and protect one another from infections.
Still in the service of God and Country
Fred Dzakpata
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