FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 06 JULY, 2020

MEDIA RELEASE

JOINT STATEMENT FROM GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE (GES) AND GHANA HEALTH
SERVICE(GHS)

REPORT OF CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES IN SOME SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

The Ghana Education Service (GES) received reports of suspected cases of

COVID-19 from some second cycle institutions including Accra Girls Senior High
school. The Ghana Health Service was subsequently notified of the situation.
As at 6th July, 2020, six (6) students, a teacher and spouse have been
confirmed as positive for COVID-19 in Accra Girls Senior High School.

A team of experts from Ghana Health Service at various levels led by national
officers and their colleagues from Ghana Education Service have been to the
school to put in the necessary control measures. GES and GHS wish to assure the
general public and all parents that in accordance with the laid down protocols
on the Covid-19 pandemic that have been issued to all schools, the necessary
steps have been taken and the six (6) confirmed students, the teacher and
spouse have been taken to a Treatment Centre for further management and
are currently doing well.

So far these are steps that have been taken:

 All Contacts of confirmed cases have been identified and separated from
non-contacts.
 Testing of all contacts of confirmed cases have started.

 The school authorities with the support of the assembly are in the process
of disinfecting the affected dormitories.

 The school has put in measures to ensure strict adherence to social

distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures.

 Continuous public education sections for staff, students and parents on

COVID-19.

Page 1 of 2
Management of GES and GHS wish to state further that;

1. Whilst it is understandable that parents would be anxious about their

children’s welfare and may besiege the schools to remove them, it is
strongly advised that this is not helpful particularly because if a student is
infected, there is a risk of further contagion in the community if he or she is
taken out of school.

2. A team of 200 personnel, drawn from the Ghana Education Service,

Ghana Health Service, the Regional and District Directorates of Education
are actively spread out all over the country and are monitoring the
situation closely. Further, all health institutions to which senior high schools
have been mapped with health facilities to ensure that any suspected
cases are promptly dealt with in accordance with the laid down
protocols.

3. School heads and selected school staff have been trained, and will
continue to receive further training and support on Covid-19 issues and
management.

4. All schools have been provided with the necessary logistics needed to
fight this pandemic, including Veronica buckets, sanitisers, face masks,
tissue paper and the schools have been disinfected as well.

5. If any student is affected, the parent will be notified and given the
opportunity to visit.

6. In all schools where there have been incidence of suspected or positive

cases, they have all been isolated/quarantined and managed
appropriately

Management wishes to inform parents, guardians and the general public to

remain assured that in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, all is being
done to ensure that our students remain safe and are able to prepare for their
impending WASSCE examination in an environment devoid of anxiety.

SGN SGN
PROF. KWASI OPOKU-AMANKWA DR. PATRICK KUMA ABOAGYE
DIRECTOR – GENERAL, GES DIRECTOR-GENERAL, GHS

Page 2 of 2