No deaths from coronavirus were recorded in October

General news for Sunday, November 1, 2020

Source: GNA

2020-11-01

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says the country did not record any deaths from COVID-19 in October.

He said the updated COVID-19 related deaths announced were not recent, but were the result of an ongoing COVID-19 data reconciliation that is taking place across all regions to usher in the next phase of measures to address the pandemic.

Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Head of the Department of Disease Surveillance, GHS, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, said that the 17 deaths recorded in October occurred between July and September 2020.

He said that although a new death from COVID-19 had not been recorded recently, there was a marginal increase in active cases as people became more interactive and refused to observe COVID-19 safety protocols.

From October 17 to 27, the number of active COVID-19 cases increased from 397 to 566 in 11 of the 16 regions, with the Greater Accra region registering the highest number of 361 active cases.

Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe said that around 64 new infections had been recorded due to people not adhering to COVID-19 prevention protocols.

“Now we are in the campaign season and it is difficult for people to wear the mask, observe the social distancing, but it is a must to wear a mask, the disease is still here and people are still getting infected,” he said. said.

The Director of Public Health said the world was witnessing a second wave of the pandemic and said it was important that the public strictly observe the protocols.

“It is challenging because the average Ghanaian thinks that the disease is no longer here, but what we are saying is that the infection of the disease is low and can increase to any level depending on public behavior,” he said.

Globally, some countries in Europe are experiencing a second wave of the pandemic after progress was made with preventive protocols.

France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom are among the countries that have started another lockdown regimen following recent surges in the disease.

Common symptoms of the virus include fever, dry cough, tiredness, aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhea, headache, loss of taste or smell, a skin rash, or discolored fingers or toes.

The Ghana Health Service advises the public to wash their hands regularly with soap and running water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, keep a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing, wear a mask when not possible physical distancing and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.

He also encourages people to cover their nose and mouth with a bent elbow or with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, recommending staying home if unwell and seeking medical attention when they experience fever, cough, and shortness of breath.