The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is beginning enhanced contact tracing and testing at the Achimota School in an attempt to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus today.

The school is currently the hotspot of the highly transmissible Delta variant said to have already infected more than 130 students and some teachers.

There are fears the new strain is already spreading in the community and the Ghana Health Service wants to stop that.

Joy News' Judith Awortwi-Tandoh with a report capturing a meeting between the health officials and the school’s management ahead of the contact tracing this morning.

 All teachers of Achimota School will be undergoing testing for the Covid-19 variant at 10 am this morning. This is according to the Regional Director of Health who met with teachers as well as authorities of the School on June 7 to deliberate on the way forward concerning the spread of the virus.

Key issues highlighted at the meeting include how the first cases were recorded.

According to authorities, the first 3 cases were detected in a boys house between the 14^th and 16^th of June after the boy showed symptoms like flu. Contact tracing eventually led to the overall 135 figure that was confirmed by the GHS on Sunday.

The Health Directorate also explained they would begin testing in the dormitories prioritizing students who are having systems.    

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Civic Education has issued a statement in which it says it is disturbed by the general disregard for the Covid-19 safety protocols among the Ghanaian public.

The press release indicated that “the current rate of infection of this new variant has been determined by the WHO as a variant of concern. Scientists say the new variant makes patients sicker with 43% – 90% more transmissible than the previous COVID-19 variants.”

“In spite of the stringent measures outlined by the Government to manage the spread of the virus including the mandatory wearing of masks, social distancing protocols at public events, the rigorous public education, the maximum number of 100 participants at gatherings, it appears citizens have reverted to a lifestyle prior to the global pandemic.”