Ghana has now recorded a total of 17,351 positive cases of coronavirus, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated.
He indicated, however, that 12,994, representing 75 per cent of the total cases, have recovered.
“This means that, currently, we have 4,245 active cases, having conducted 294,867 tests, one of the highest on the continent,” President Akufo-Addo said in his televised address to the nation on Sunday, June 28.
“Thirty persons are severely and critically ill, and we have a total of 112 sad deaths, constituting 0.6 per cent of positives, as we maintain one of the lowest death rates in the world,” he added.
The president expressed concern about the scepticism within a section of the populace regarding the dangers of the disease.
“The Ghana Health Service has observed that most of the patients that have been lost to the virus died either on arrival at the hospital, or within 48 hours after arrival,” he said, attributing this to the lateness in help for medical care sought by patients after they have long shown symptoms of the virus at home.
“There should be no fear of stigmatisation or embarrassment with being diagnosed with Covid-19,” President Akufo-Addo noted.
“So, please, when you begin to experience symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, bodily pains, loss of taste and smell, and difficulty in breathing, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility.”
He cited evidence of how persons initially admitted at the intensive care units (ICUs) of major medical facilities survive and recover from the virus.
But, ultimately, President Akufo-Addo advised Ghanaians to adhere to the health protocols as “these are the weapons of our battle”.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana