The Coronavirus outbreak started in December 2019 and currently has affected 92,943 in about 60 countries. Six countries in Africa – Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco and Nigeria – have reported confirmed cases. There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ghana to date. As at the time of writing, 40 suspected cases have tested negative in Ghana (the disease situation is rapidly evolving and the University community be updated periodically).
Preparations by University Health Services
The health services team is currently undergoing training on COVID-19 with the World Health Organization to be well educated on the condition. Dr. Oliver-Commey, the university physician and an infectious disease specialist, is a member of Ghana’s COVID-19 medical team and will be providing education and simulation to the health team and the general university community on the disease.
The Health Centre has also purchased medical equipment for prevention and identification of possible symptoms; and the university has the capacity to house up to seven people, if necessary, who may show symptoms and will need to stay in private quarters.
Public Health Campaign
The Health Centre has started a campus health campaign on COVID-19, starting with e-mail and posters. The public health campaign will continue throughout the semester and will include a broader set of channels. Target audiences will also contractors and vendors on campus, and special education sessions have been planned for auxiliary staff like cleaners and security.
Students, Faculty, Staff and Others Returning to Campus After Midsemester Break
We are currently aware of 10 members of our community who are returning from one country with low-risk exposure to COVID-19 (1 confirmed case). We have been in communication with all of them, and are working hand-in-hand to ensure safety.
Everyone traveling into Ghana from affected countries should expect to be checked by health authorities at the Kotoka Airport. Returning members of our community will also be screened by the Health Centre on campus, and those with symptoms will stay in restricted quarters on campus for two weeks. During the period, body temperature will be recorded twice a day. Ghana’s COVID-19 national response team will be informed in the unlikely event that illness continues or worsens, and official testing will be conducted at Noguchi Memorial Institute.
Precautions For Hosting Visitors On Campus
In the event that you will be hosting guests from affected countries on campus, please:
- Inform the Natembea Health Centre to enable us provide case-by-case guidance and safety support.
- Where possible, consider rescheduling visits and convenings with guests from affected countries until further notice.
- If you have to host guests from affected countries, have prior conversations with them about the possibility of restricted movement within campus.
Precautions For The Entire University Community
All students, faculty and staff have to complete a questionnaire to determine their level of risk based on recent travel history, and potential exposure to affected countries. Appropriate action, ranging from monitoring to restricted movement on campus, will be taken based on the risk assessed.
Emergency Response Plan
The university is developing a campus response protocol in the event of severe COVID-19 spread in Ghana, which will be completed by mid to late March 2020. The Ashesi Community will be informed about the emergency response protocol as soon as it is ready and a simulation will be held together with the Ghana Health Service.