A five-year-old girl has become the latest to contract the novel coronavirus disease in the Northern Region.

The victim, a resident of the Tamale Metropolis, is among some 13 new cases recorded in the Region between Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16.

The new cases have seen a jump of more than half in the case count for the Region, from 19 to 32 on Saturday, May 16.

Two hospital staff are also among the latest confirmed cases, the Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Eleeza John Bertson, told journalists.

The two staff have, however, not gotten in contact with any infected person.

“The new medical staff cases are in self-isolation and they are actually on leave so they couldn’t get in contact with any case under management.”

Dr Eleeza John Bertson has attributed the sudden jump in numbers to the late delivery of samples from the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR).

“These results are samples of 200 contacts traced from some 12 cases and dispatched to the KCCR on 22 April. [The] results were received on May 15.”

He admitted that the delay in receiving the result poses a threat to the Directorate.

“It also means that there could be more infected persons as these cases were not quarantined,” Dr Bertson revealed.

The 12 new cases consist of nine males and three females.

“The age range is five years to 51 years.”

The Northern Region has also recorded one death involving an orange seller, who had no traveling history.