The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has begun investigations into a suspected case of the deadly COVID-19 in Ghana.

The case involves a patient who reported at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) on Thursday afternoon with symptoms of the disease.

The patient is a Ghanaian woman based abroad who returned to the country for a medical procedure.

Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Badu Sarkodie in an interview with Accra based Citi News confirmed the developments.

Dr. Badu Sarkodie told Citi News that the Noguchi Medical Research Institute is expected to complete the tests on the latest case by close of Friday.

“Yesterday, information reached us in the evening that there is a suspected case in Korle Bu and tests have been taken to know exactly what it is. Indeed, it is suspected to be COVID-19 and samples have been taken and sent to Noguchi Memorial Institute. I have been informed that they are actively working on it so we are waiting for the report. This person is a Ghanaian citizen who was living outside the country and has come to the country for a medical procedure.”

This is the second time the teaching Hospital is recording a suspected case of the deadly disease. The first one which involved two Chinese nationals tested negative after examination and testing by the Noguchi Medical Research Institute.

Despite earlier reports from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) stating that all 33 cases of coronavirus in Ghana tested negative, the Director-General of GHS, Dr Patrick Aboagye disclosed that one case is still being tested.

READ ALSO:

Coronavirus: 'Dirty Banknotes May Spread Coronavirus'- WHO Warns

 “So far we’ve tested about 33 cases. All have proved negative. One case is being tested… All the tests were done here [in Ghana]. The tests are 100 percent sure. We have the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR)… For now, the two are enough,” he had said.

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service have announced various measures to prevent the virus and contain it should there be a reported case.

The Health Minister, Kwaku-Agyemang Manu in that regard, briefed parliament yesterday, 5th March, on measures adopted to combat the outbreak.

At the Airport, people arriving in the country are made to fill a declaration form that is used to determine their risk factors in terms of exposure to areas that have recorded cases of coronavirus.

Dr Patrick Aboagye indicated that follow-up checks are made on all such contacts to ascertain whether or not they will show symptoms of the disease.