All new convicts destined for Ghana’s prisons will be thoroughly screened and quarantine for 14 days, the Ghana Prisons Service has announced as precautionary measures are put in place to prevent the novel coronavirus from entering the various prisons.
On the back of that, all the 44 prisons dotted across the country have been directed to identify special cells and rooms to be used for the screening process and quarantining of suspected coronavirus cases which may be presented at any of the facilities.
The decision comes at a time that the confirmed cases of the deadly virus in the country rise to seven, barely a week after the first two imported cases were recorded.
Concerns have been raised about measures to ensure the global pandemic does not enter the country’s overcrowded prisons.
Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Superintendent Courage Atsem said on TV3’s current affairs programme, Hot Issues, on Tuesday that the Service has also suspended all contact visits.
“All persons including officers entering or returning to the facilities are also supposed to be screened” he said.
He said visits will be limited to only receiving items that will benefit the inmates.
Superintendent Atsem said the various prisons facilities have water, soaps and sanitisers, but appealed to the public to provide support with the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitisers and other protective gears.
By Mercydalyne Lokko|3news.com|Ghana