Explainer: Why countries are recording high recovery numbers told
- The World Health Organisation has come up with a new discharge policy
- WHO released a guideline indicating persons with little or no symptoms of the virus within 10-14 days should be discharged
- The GHS has, however, explained that the reasons for Ghana adhering to the new COVID-19 discharge policy is, to among other things, decongest the country’s isolation centres
- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in
Recently the astronomical increase in recoveries in COVID-19 patients as indicated by the Ghana Health Service got a lot of tongues wagging demanding explanation as to why the figures had shot up.
It would be recalled that as of Friday, June 19, 2020, the number of recoveries was less than 5,000 per statistics from the Ghana Health Service.
The increase in the recoveries, wouldn't have come as a surprise to the many Ghanaians who at least followed the press briefing on Thursday, June 18, 2020.
Speaking at the press briefing, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Aboagye, indicated that those who are not showing any sign of the disease after their initial positive test would be discharged without the second and third test.
This decision was taken by the government after the World Health Organisation released a guideline indicating persons with little or no symptoms of the virus within 10-14 days be discharged.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Ghana’s caseload now 14,154 with 85 deaths
Scientific evidence from WHO has established that after 10 days of the disease's onset, patients who do not show symptoms stand a very limited chance of transmitting the disease.
Prior to this new policy from WHO, initially infected persons were not let off the radar until their third test proved that they were negative.
The GHS has, however, explained that the reasons for Ghana adhering to the new COVID-19 discharge policy, is to among other things, decongest the country’s isolation centres.
The GHS also said the rising costs of testing, clogging of isolation and treatment centres and rising maintenance costs account for the adoption of the new discharge policy.
READ ALSO: Fact check: WHO has not named Ghana as second-best country in management of COVID-19
In other news, claims that the World Health Organization (WHO) has named Ghana as the second-best country in the management of COVID-19 have been proven to be untrue.
The claims went viral on social media after two groups related to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) shared them on Facebook.
One of the posts claimed that the WHO named Ghana as the second-best country in the world after Germany in terms of efficiency in the management of COVID-19 cases.
READ ALSO: 66% of Ghanaians say Mahama is better at keeping campaign promises than Nana Addo
University of Ghana reopens for final year students | #Yencomgh
Have national and human interest issues to discuss?
Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?
Your stories and photos are always welcome.
Get interactive via our Facebook page.
Source: YEN.com.gh
