At least 97 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Ashanti Region.

This was disclosed at a press on Wednesday, June 17 in Kumasi, the regional capital.

According to the Ghana Health Service, 14 of them have recovered while 82 of the number are receiving treatment at home.

Officials also confirmed the death of Dr Harry Boateng, Medical Superintendent of the SDA Hospital at Kwadaso, after he contracted the virus.

The figure adds to some 2,403 COVID-19 cases recorded so far in the Ashanti Region with 38 deaths with 778 recoveries.

Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, expressed worry about the development, but warned of a spike of the case count if residents do not adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols.

“But the bottom line with the Ashanti Region is that we need to adhere to the protocols and the guidelines as it has been prescribed by the president. Now we don’t see the Veronica bucket anywhere. Nobody is observing social distancing protocols. With this we can’t fight Covid-19,” Dr Tenkorang said.

Meanwhile, the country’s caseload has shot up to 12,590 with 66 deaths and 4,410 recoveries.