Government has introduced new measures at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in the wake of recorded cases of COVID-19 in some parts of Africa.

According to the Ministry of Health, the latest measures instituted include a mass screening of every individual at the entry points of the country’s largest referral centre regardless of the purpose of their visit.

As countries across the world scramble to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19, stringent measures such as the quarantine of entire populations - in China’s Wuhan province - the epicentre of the outbreak and as is being done in Italy - have been resorted to by governments.

Ghana’s neighbour, Burkina Faso, on Monday reported its first two cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), becoming the sixth country in sub-Saharan Africa affected by the fast-spreading virus.

In Ghana, a recent suspected case recorded at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which tested negative, has been a wakeup call for the country’s healthcare system.

Various entry points into the facility are also expected to be streamlined to boost the effectiveness of the new set of protocols geared towards ensuring early detection of suspected cases.

Speaking to JoyNews, Deputy Health Minister Alexander Abban explained that, “in places like Korle Bu where we have entry points we have asked that they should create designated entry points. They should make sure that whoever is to be suspected to carry the virus is screened.

"That is the protocol that we have set in place so that once you are entering they have to check your temperature whether you are going for maternity or X-ray… so long as you are entering the hospital they have to check these things.”

According to Mr Abban, anyone who shows symptoms that fit the case definition will be isolated and subjected to designated protocols.

President Akufo-Addo has also suspended all foreign travels of public officials over threats of COVID-19.