A global health expert at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) has described as timely government's decision to discharge asymptomatic Covid-19 patients from treatment facilities.

Dr John Amuasi said these persons may not be able to transmit the virus to others and continuing to hold them at isolation centres will only put enormous pressure on the already overburdened health system.

According to him, the new discharge protocol is firmly grounded in known science.

“In my scientific, medical public health opinion; I believe they should have even come much earlier because it has come at the cost to the state; keeping such a large number of people in isolation centres.”

President Akufo-Addo in his 12^th address to the nation on measures taken against the spread of the virus announced a review to Ghana’s recovery policy to discharge patients who tested positive for the virus but are not exhibiting any symptoms after 14 days of undergoing treatment.

He cited the WHO's latest update on the novel coronavirus disease to back his point.

The President added, “after three weeks of analysing and studying this update and recommendation, and situating it in the Ghanaian context, in line with the admonition by WHO to member states, this new patient discharge/recovery policy has now been adopted by Ghana, as have some countries in the European Union, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and in Dubai.’’

Speaking to Daniel Dadzie on Prime Morning on the Joy Prime channel, Dr Amuasi urged government to continue monitoring these asymptomatic persons after they have been discharged from the treatment centres to ensure they fully recover and return to their normal life.

He further called on the public not to panic as government implemented the new patient discharge policy.

“I don’t think people should be alarmed but I still think people continue to remain vigilant nonetheless and people discharged still will need to adopt some precautionary measures especially when they think they are feeling unwell for at least a week more.” he advised.

He, however, cautioned the public to be vigilant and adhere to the safety protocols as the surest way of not contracting the Covid-19.