Nkawkaw COVID-19 scare: Babies positive, moms negative
Babies and their mothers are inseparable. Common cold in one means the other will be infected.
But in Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, the situation is different as some babies test positive for coronavirus while their mothers test negative.
“We’re talking about a six-month-old baby. Others are one and two years, and strangely their mothers are negative,” the Municipal Health Director, Celestina Asante revealed in an interview with Dadi FM.
She believed the babies and toddlers might have contracted the virus through caregivers.
“This should tell you that we have to be mindful of those we leave our babies with during these unusual times. We have to be careful in the community, especially those we ask to take care of our children.”
Mrs. Asante did not hide her concern over the seeming disregard for the virus in her area. While calling for behavioural change among residents, she revealed adults between the ages of 25 and 50 years had so far contracted COVID-19 in the municipality.
“The community spread is becoming an issue. We must all do our best to help stop the spread of the disease. For the adults, their age range is between 25 to 50 years. Thankfully, they are all in a stable condition, and most of them are asymptomatic.
“Our major issue now is behavioural change, and we’re appealing to everyone to wear the mask. That is our surest bet now to contain the spread.”
Her call for a behavioural change comes after President Akufo-Addo in his June 14 address on COVID-19 warned that “wearing of facemask is now mandatory”.
Ghana’s COVID-19 cases stood at 11,964 with 4,258 recoveries. So far, 54 people, including health professionals and Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, K.K. Sam have died as a result of the virus.
Meanwhile, the country’s Commander in the fight against coronavirus, the Minister of Health, Kweku Agyemang Manu, has also tested positive for the dreaded disease.
His colleague, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah during a media briefing on Monday evening, said the Health Minister was responding to treatment.