A staff of Chirano Gold Mine, an underground and open pit mining company in the Western North Region, has tested positive of the novel Coronavirus.

The patient is undergoing treatment at a health facility while 70 others whose samples have been taken for testing have been asked to self-isolate.

A Human Resource Director of Kinross Limited, owners of the mining company, Nyarko Dankwah said the company is stepping up safety protocols while it awaits test results from the Ghana Health Service.

“As I speak close to 65 of our workers are being tested and monitored. We have also directed our workers to observe social distancing protocols as well and so there is no cause for alarm at the moment”, the Human Resource Manager said in an interview.

The development now increases the number of regions in Ghana affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to 11 out of 16.

Health Officials at Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai District, where the company is situated, have since intensified surveillance and education to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We have begun contact tracing and surveillance all the workers have also been listed and tested; many of our officials will also be deployed to intensify education and also enforce safety protocols in the district”, said Dr Francis Takyi, who is the Director of Health Services in the District.

“So from hence we are partnering the assembly to have our markets decongested so that all safety protocols will be observed”, the Health Director said as he ruled out a possible lockdown of the area.

Ghana’s COVID-19 case count

Ghana has so far recorded 1,154 cases of the novel Coronavirus, the country’s health service said on Wednesday, April 22.

Authorities said 120 persons have so been recovered while nine others have died.