Congestion in schools responsible for coronavirus spread – Health Minister

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu has attributed the spread of COVID-19 in senior high schools to congestion.

“What we’re hearing after investigation is that some of the schools that are getting infections are a bit congested. We’re looking at alternatives as to whether we can decongest the schools, send some of the students to some other schools that are free, and some of the things like that.

“This is being done together with the Ghana Education Service and Ghana Health Service,” he said.

The minister made these comments while speaking to journalists in the Ashanti Region after a tour of some health facilities.

There has been mounting pressure on government to close down schools again over fears of an escalation of infections among students.

This was after at least nine schools recorded confirmed cases of COVID-19 since re-opening on June 22nd, 2020 after they were closed in March.

Accra Girls’ SHS has the highest cases as there are 55 confirmed infections among students and teachers.

Some distraught parents stormed the premises of the school demanding that their wards be released to them over fears of a further spread at the time the school recorded its first six cases.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had also joined calls for schools to be closed down again.

But responding to calls for the closure, the Health Minister said that will not happen.

According to him, “closing down schools is defeatist and a cowardly person’s approach to solving problems”.

“When we are confronted with problems, we don’t go back and say we have withdrawn but fight and overcome them. Look elsewhere especially, America where the numbers are huge but they are opening schools,” he said justifying the government’s position.

“We will fight the disease. We will do things that will solve some of the challenges that we have and protect everybody; ourselves and or our children”, he gave an assurance.

Agyemang-Manu reiterated government’s position for people to brace themselves and live with the virus.

“We have been saying over and over again that we must learn to live with the disease.”

The Education Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh has also dismissed calls for another closure.