50,000 additional test kits to arrive soon – Akufo-Addo

As Ghana’s two coronavirus testing centres complain about lack of resources to test large numbers, the government says it is buying 50,000 additional test kits to boost their capacity.

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative complained last week about inadequate resources to test potential cases in huge numbers.

Coronavirus: Let’s brace for more cases – Head of Noguchi warns

With frontline members of staff of the various hospitals also complaining about basic personal protective equipment to work with, it appears help is on the way.

The President, in an address to the nation Saturday evening, said that “50,000 additional test kits have been ordered and are expected in the country very shortly.”

He announced the closure of all the country’s borders on land as part of measures to slow the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease that has affected 21 people in the country.

Mr Akufo-Addo in his address also urged Ghanaians to adhere strictly to the social distancing measures announced on Sunday, March 15.

The President’s address came hours after one of the 21 individuals who tested positive for Coronavirus died in a health facility at Kumasi in the Ashanti region.

The victim, according to the Deputy Health Minister, Alexander Abban, is a Lebanese national who tested positive for the virus last week.