In Ghana, more than 500 new cases of coronavirus were detected in a single plant in Tema, on the Atlantic coast. A single worker was enough to infect them all, according to Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, who on 10 May extended the ban on gatherings until the end of the month.
The cases were detected at a fish processing plant in Tema, Ghana’s fishing hub, 25 kilometers east of the Ghanaian capital Accra. These 533 new infections alone account for 11% of the 4 700 confirmed cases in the country. The cases were detected at the end of April but, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said, they were only reported last week.
On Monday 11 May, the health authorities were still slow to deliver details. But to counter all the criticism, the Ghanaian president praised his policy on 10 May. His government lifted the travel restrictions three weeks ago while conducting a massive campaign of tests, including for asymptomatic cases.
This is an approach without equivalent in Africa. On Sunday, 10 May, it extended the ban on gatherings, border closures and the closure of schools and universities at least until the end of the month.
The mass infection at the facility brings the total number of confirmed cases in the West African nation to 4,700, the president said, adding that 22 people have died of coronavirus-related illnesses since the outbreak was reported in the country in March.