The Director-Basic of the Ghana Wellness Support (GHS) has claimed no good Covid-19 scenario has been recorded at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) right after it was re-opened on September 1.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye mentioned in two times, a whole of 247 travellers experienced so considerably been through Antigen Screening for Covid-19 at the Airport because its reopening on Tuesday, September 1 with no Covid-19 positive circumstance.
Speaking at a push briefing on Thursday in Accra, he claimed 217 passengers were analyzed on the first day of the re-opening of the Airport, September 1 and 30 analyzed on the second day, September 2.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye stated the Antigen Testing (speedy issue of treatment Covid-19 tests) units put in at the Airport was for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasopharyngeal swabs.
“It is in essence to assure that we do not import viruses and people today who are (obtaining the virus) travelling into the country, so that our airport is a harmless place for persons to transact company.”
He mentioned arriving passengers ended up to submit a Covid-19 damaging Polymerase Chain Response (PCR) final results and the sample really should have been taken not far more than 72 hrs ahead of vacation.
The Director Normal stated the passengers were also to go through an Antigen examination upon arrival at the Airport stating that “if you are unfavorable, you go through immigration and customs and depart”.
“If favourable, the passenger will be isolated in a holding area and will be transported to Ga East Medical center for medical assessment and even more administration.”
He mentioned the best purpose of the approach was to minimise the risk of importation of the virus to the populace as the country reopened its borders.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye reported Antigen Tests product was an amino acid fluorescent system that did the Antigen test with a pretty higher sensitivity in excess of 99 for each cent declaring that “if it suggests you are damaging you are actually adverse and if it suggests you are beneficial then you are truly beneficial.”
Prof. William Ampofo, Nationwide Coordinator, Ghana Covid-19 Tests Routine, reiterated that the take a look at at the Airport was an Antigen Test, which was primarily based on the fluorescent immuno acid.
“It is a fast place of care machine. It normally takes 6 samples which will get about 15 minutes to appear out. The sample that is taken is a nasopharyngeal swab.”
He claimed the device and its reagents have been assessed by the Food items and Medicine Authority.
Prof. Ampofo stated on behalf of the COVID Undertaking Power, he carried out some assessments on the machine applying samples that were analyzed by PCR.
He reported final results from two exams they had done indicated that the Antigen Screening product was a hundred per cent certain “that is when we search at samples that have been declared detrimental by PCR, these samples were being also uncovered to be damaging for antigen presence for Covid-19”.
“When we appeared at sensitivity, the ability to choose up samples that were being optimistic by the PCR, the equipment gave us a vary in between 90 to 95 for every cent”.
This, he explained, they deemed to be satisfactory simply because the plan for the Airport was that travellers who were arriving ended up meant to have destructive PCR.
“So we count on that when we do the Antigen check at the Airport, for the reason that it is a hundred for every cent unique, we hope to find that, there will be no human body coming in with a favourable final result.
“That is the foundation for recommending the use of the antigen equipment at the Airport. Mainly because it is faster than the PCR, that is why it has been referred to as the fast device.”
“The PCR normally takes about an hour and 30 minutes or two hours when you load a sample into the equipment. It is difficult to do PCR at any airport and get the consequence inside of fewer than three hrs,” Prof. Ampofo reported.
