26 COVID-19 cases detected at Kotoka airport

The Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has recorded 26 positive cases of COVID-19 less than 20 days after the resumption of operations.

President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the figures, wondering  “what would have happened if these 26 positives had not been detected, and had been allowed to mingle with the population”.

The cases were recorded despite requirements that all passengers must be in possession of a negative Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result upon their arrival in Ghana.

The test should have been conducted not more than seventy-72 hours before the scheduled departure from the country of origin.

In his 17nth address on measures taken to control the pathogen on Sunday, September 20, President Akufo-Addo said, “As at yesterday, Saturday, September 19, a total of 10,061 passengers have been tested at Kotoka”.

It was out of the lot that more than a double dozen passengers were found to carry the coronavirus.

The airport reopened to commercial flights on September 1, 2020, five months after international travels were halted as part of measures to contain the pandemic.

A total of 16 out of the 23 airlines that operated at KIA prior to its closure have commenced flights to and from Accra.

PCR test machines have been installed to conduct tests and transmit results automatically to immigration terminals within 30 minutes.

The cost of the test was pegged at US$150 which drew criticism from a section of the public.

But President Akufo-Addo maintained that “the value of the test in its speed, accuracy and savings for passengers, who no longer have to bear the cost of the 14-day mandatory quarantine in hotels, has been clearly established”.

“It is worth noting that a lot of people, who have experienced at first hand the service being offered at our international airport, have praised the country for the innovation and farsightedness on display at our airport,” he added.

For him, the government will do everything to protect citizens and prevent “the importation of the virus into our country, or limit and contain its spread”.

“This is my solemn commitment to you,” President Akufo-Addo assured.

As of Friday, the total number of tests conducted was 470,730.

So far, a total of 45,258 persons have recovered but 297 lives have been claimed by the infection.