Man who died in Kumasi tested negative for coronavirus – Health Service

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has ruled out COVID-19 in the death of a Ghanaian man who returned from Germany recently.

The man went to Kumasi after he arrived from the European country, where approximately 130 cases have been recorded.

COVID-19: Ghana “limited” in case of outbreak – WHO

He was taken ill over the weekend but died shortly afterwards raising fears that he might have passed away due to untreated COVID-19 in his system.

Having shown signs such as acute fever and respiratory challenges which fit the case definition of the Wuhan novel coronavirus, health officials extracted body fluid samples which were tested at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research.

Fortunately, he tested negative for the virus but the cause of his death is yet to be made public.

Coronavirus: Not necessary for everyone to wear mask – Health Service

Confirming the incident, Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Badu Sarkodie, told Joy FM on Monday, March 3, that: “We can say definitely that we don’t have a confirmed case in the country.”

He said the total number of cases that have been tested so far in Ghana are approximately 30 and none has tested positive for the virus that has infected close to 90,000 and killed 30,000 globally.

The worst affected being China which accounts for more than 80% of the cases.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced is making frantic efforts to detect and manage cases as the fast-spreading infection hits alarming figures.

Five African countries – Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Nigeria – have already confirmed cases of the virus.

Meanwhile, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has charged Ghanaians to avoid handshake which is a common greeting practice across the country.

Speaking at the centenary anniversary of the Presbyterian Cluster of Schools in Suhum, Dr Bawumia entreated the public strictly observe preventive measures against the highly infections disease spread through contact.

“We will have to maybe start thinking of how we shake hands with each pother across the country because it is a risk that we have to be conscious of,” he said.