The number of persons tested positive for Coronavirus in Eastern Region has risen to 28.

The confirmed cases were recorded from about half of 244 samples of construction workers sent to Noguchi Institute for Medical Research.

The 244 are quarantined contacts in AFCON Construction Company in Lower Manya Krobo where an Indian expatriate working on Tema to Akosombo railway project tested Positive on March 31, 2020.

The cases are expected to increase as more results are yet to be released, the Eastern Regional Minister Eric Kwakye Darfour revealed this Friday, April 10, 2020, during an interview with host Kwaku Kwabi popularly known as Dawuro, on Kingdom FM in Accra

“Where the cases are being recorded is not the Kpong community but Camp of a construction company where many of the workers are Indian expatriates. Results of samples released From last night till this afternoon indicate 28 confirmed cases. so far what I have are 28 confirmed cases. It is likely the number will increase because of these results so far from among half of the samples being tested,” the Regional Minister stated.

On Thursday, April 9, 2020, Eastern region recorded 15 more COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of cases in the region to 16.

Prior to the announcement, the Eastern Regional Health Directorate issued a statement under the signature of the Regional Director – Dr Mrs Alberta Adjaben Biritwum Nyarko appealing for more Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as results for some suspected COVID-19 in the region pends.

According to the Directorate, limited quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) received are distributed by the Regional Medical Stores to health facilities as and when they become available from Headquarters.

The Health Directorate acknowledged that many health facilities have received donations of various logistics from their Municipal and District Chief Executives and Members of Parliament and other benevolent organizations but are not enough, therefore “imploring individuals and groups, co-operate bodies etc to support this fight against COVID-19 by donating in cash or kind such as PPEs, ventilators, beds, mattresses, infusion pumps, fuel, sanitizers etc to the Regional Health Directorate to support the work our teams are doing across the region and also to support the setting up of a 100-bed COVID-19 Treatment Centre in the Region”.

According to the statement, the Regional Health Directorate had submitted a total of 373 samples of suspected Coronavirus cases to Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research awaiting results.

Out of the number, 244 samples were taken from contacts connected to Indian expatriate who tested positive of COVID-19 in Lower Manya Krobo Municipality. Three are also persons who had contact with a person tested Positive in the Upper East Region.

The statement added “There are 3 other contacts we have traced and are following up on who is linked to the confirmed case in Upper East Region. They are also doing well. Their samples have also been sent and we await results. Cumulative samples we have taken and submitted total 373?.

The statement said health workers in the region are being trained in batches to build their capacity to enable them to manage COVID-19 cases.

Communication materials are also being distributed to all health facilities across the region including private facilities. Case management and contact tracing teams are being supported in the field by the Security agencies and the collaboration has been excellent.

The Regional Health Directorate is however worried about lack of physical or social distancing across the region, especially in commercial areas.