The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Akufo-Addo led government to review the new recovery policy that allows for the discharge of people with positive Covid-19 test results.

According to the party, the new policy which appears to be increasing the country’s recoveries/discharge cases is creating a false sense of security amongst people, thus the blatant disregard for Covid-19 protocols in the country.

Their concerns were raised at a press briefing held at the party’s headquarters, Monday, July 13 to air their grievances with the ruling government’s handling of the Covid-19 fight.

Speaking on behalf of the NDC, the national communicator, Sammy Gyamfi said, “Much as government may be in a hurry to make our picture look good, a further worsening of this situation will completely overrun our health system, hence the need to tread cautiously.”

These comments come on the back of Ghana revising its policy for the discharge of Covid-19 patients as part of measures to reduce ‘rising cost in testing’ and ‘increasing workload’.

According to a Ghana Health Service statement, a set of proposals has been tabled to, among other things, de-isolate asymptomatic cases 14 days after an initial positive test.

For symptomatic cases, de-isolation is scheduled to take place 14 days after onset of symptoms plus at least 3 days without symptoms.

This, the experts believe will also help ease pressure on the health facilities.

These new developments are based on recent data and a new clinical management guide by the World Health Organisation on the modification of discharge criteria.

However, the NDC believes the implementation of such guidelines will inadvertently lead to a staggering increase in cases that may further cripple the already struggling health system.

“Our implementation of the same against the caution of the WHO that there is a "minimal residual risk" that patients discharged under their new policy may still be infectious, has the tendency to jeopardize further our failing fight.”

The NDC is also calling for among other things, the immediate adoption of a mass and efficient testing regime to be able to go after the virus.

“Our current reactionary approach to the virus is actually what is precipitating its further rapid spread. Apart from the absence of testing, the time lag between when tests are conducted and when the results are ready gives room for the virus to spread inadvertently to those who hitherto did not have it,” Mr Gyamfi said.