COVID-19: JHS in Oti Region Records Case as Infections Spike
Dr Badu Sarkodie however said, the Junior High Schools may still be the 'safest' place in the country
Jonas Danquah 
A Junior High School in the Oti Region has recorded a case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as the spread of the virus in Ghana’s educational institutions continues.
The COVID-19 case, according to the Director of Public Health for the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Badu Sarkodie, is the first and only case at the JHS level.
He however did not disclose the name the school in question.
Since the reopening of schools, Accra Technical University, Accra Girls Senior High School (AGISS), Wesley Grammar, Odorgonno have all recorded cases.
Some five schools in the Western Region have also reportedely confirmed cases, the Western Regional Director of Health, Dr. Jacob Mahama has revealed. Some suspected cases in other schools are being followed up the GHS.
Addressing the issue at a press conference on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, Dr. Badu Sarkodie, suggested that the spikes in COVID-19 in senior high Schools can be attributed to non-adherence of safety protocols.
He however assured that, the situation is being brought under control.
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“The only reported JHS with a case is in the Oti Region. Just one. I think they [Junior High Schools] are probably adhering to the protocols more than the others,”
“The tertiary schools opened on the 15 of June and again we haven’t had many events within the tertiary and then the SHS on the 22nd and the JHS 29th June. So, based on the time, if you look at the period, 29th to now is more than two weeks and if we are going by the incubation period, should the JHS be confined, then it will be amongst the safest place for us as a country.”
“The Senior High Schools we have the data here despite the number of cases, a few of them in sporadic quantities that have been reported. The rate within the SHS is much lower than the total population in the country. The least was the Junior High Schools,” he said.
Meanwhile, 55 students and staff at the Accra Girls’ Senior High School have contracted virulent disease.
This was disclosed by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Monday, July 13, 2020, after it commenced a testing exercise at the school.
