Takoradi, Western Region, July 17, 2020//-Three thousand 374 results are pending at the Veterinary Laboratory at Takoradi in the Western region due to the absence of reagents and medical consumables.
The region has already recorded a cumulative of two thousand 218 positive cases of COVID-19. This situation is set to increase spread rate as people tested will not isolate themselves for the fourteen days.
The Veterinary Laboratory in Takoradi is the only facility conducting test on samples of suspected cases of COVID-19 in the Western Region. With a capacity to test three hundred samples a day, the laboratory was able to conduct almost seven thousand samples in two months.
However, it is unable to do so now due to the inadequate supply of reagents and medical consumables needed for conducting test on samples collected by the health authorities. Per data released by the Western Region Health Directorate, three thousand 374 results are pending as the region had already recorded a cumulative of two thousand 218 positive cases of COVID-19.
The Head of the Takoradi Veterinary Laboratory, Dr Oliver Boakye-Danquah is appealing for regular supply of reagents and consumables.
A Deputy Western Regional Health Director in charge of Public Health, Dr Kofi Asomaning-Mensah described the situation as worrying in that, the delay in getting real time test results of suspected cases of COVID-19 is affecting the management of the cases.
According to him, people with suspected cases go into self quarantine awaiting test results but these delays beyond the 14 days compel them to move out without waiting to know their status.
At the time of this publication, Ghana recorded over 25,000 COVID-19 cases with 139 deaths.
GBC
