‘You’re not immune to covid-19’ – Health Service tells recovered Carlos Ahenkorah

The former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkora, has recovered from coronavirus, the Ghana Health Service says.

This was contained in a letter signed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, to the Tema West MP.

“The Ghana Health Service wishes to inform you that you have obtained two consecutive negative laboratory test results for covid-19. For this reason, you are deemed to have recovered from covered -19 infection and so can return to work,” the GHS said in a letter dated July 9, 2020.

While there is a widely held notion that persons who recover from the disease would develop immunity, the Ghana Health Service said the resigned minister is still at risk.

“This, however, does not mean you are immune from contracting the virus, henceforth,” it said.

The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah, resigned after admitting he breached coronavirus safety protocols.

Mr Ahenkorah said on July 2 that he visited public places despite testing positive for COVID-19, an infectious disease that has killed 135 in Ghana.

His actions triggered calls for his dismissal on social media, which he bowed to.

To shield Mr Ahenkorah, and his associates, from another bout of covid-19 infection, the Ghana Health Service urged him to abide by the protocols aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus.

It urged the legislator to take precautions,  including “the use of a face mask at all times, especially in public places, and also frequently wash his hands with soap under running water.

The MP is among a number of ministers affected by the disease. The list includes the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu; the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh;  and the Minister of Regional Re-organisation, Dan Botwe.

As of Saturday, the country confirmed 23,834 with 4,487 active cases and almost 18,000 recoveries.