The Ghana Education Service (GES) received reports of suspected cases of COVID-19 from some second cycle institutions including Accra Girls Senior High school. The Ghana Health Service was subsequently notified of the situation. As at 6th July 2020, six (6) students, a teacher, and spouse have been confirmed as positive for COVID-19 in Accra Girls Senior High School.
A team of experts from Ghana Health Service at various levels led by national officers and their colleagues from the Ghana Education Service has been to the school to put in the necessary control measures. GES and GHS wish to assure the general public and all parents that in accordance with the laid down protocols on the Covid-19 pandemic that have been issued to all schools, the necessary steps have been taken and the six (6) confirmed students, the teacher and spouse have been taken to a Treatment Centre for further management and are currently doing well.
So far these are steps that have been taken:
· All Contacts of confirmed cases have been identified and separated from non-contacts.
· Testing of all contacts of confirmed cases have started.
· The school authorities with the support of the assembly are in the process of disinfecting the affected dormitories.
· The school has put in measures to ensure strict adherence to social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures.
· Continuous public education sections for staff, students and parents on COVID-19.
Management of GES and GHS wish to state further that;
1. Whilst it is understandable that parents would be anxious about their children’s welfare and may besiege the schools to remove them, it is strongly advised that this is not helpful particularly because if a student is infected, there is a risk of further contagion in the community if he or she is taken out of school.
2. A team of 200 personnel, drawn from the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, the Regional and District Directorates of Education are actively spread out all over the country and are monitoring the situation closely. Further, all health institutions to which senior high schools have been mapped with health facilities to ensure that any suspected cases are promptly dealt with in accordance with the laid down protocols.
3. School heads and selected school staff have been trained, and will continue to receive further training and support on Covid-19 issues and management.
4. All schools have been provided with the necessary logistics needed to fight this pandemic, including Veronica buckets, sanitisers, face masks, tissue paper and the schools have been disinfected as well.
5. If any student is affected, the parent will be notified and given the opportunity to visit.
6. In all schools where there has been the incidence of suspected or positive cases, they have all been isolated/quarantined and managed appropriately.
Management wishes to inform parents, guardians and the general public to remain assured that in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, all is being done to ensure that our students remain safe and are able to prepare for their impending WASSCE examination in an environment devoid of anxiety.