Coronavirus updates As it happens (2020-03-31)

Mar 31, 2020

LIVE: Press Briefing with Coronavirus Task Force

Mar 31, 2020

BREAKING Boy, 13, dies after testing positive for virus

By BBC News

A 13-year-old boy from London has died after testing positive for coronavirus, King's College Hospital has said.

"Sadly, a 13-year old boy who tested positive for Covid-19 has passed away, and our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this time," a spokesman for the hospital said.

"The death has been referred to the coroner and no further comment will be made."

Mar 31, 2020

BREAKING France’s deaths rise by 499 in 24 hours

By BBC News

France has recorded 499 new hospital deaths from coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 3,523, its director of health has said. This is the highest daily rise in such deaths since the outbreak began.

Health agency director Jérôme Salomon told a news conference that the number of cases had risen to 52,128 from 44,550 in the same period.

He said a total of 5,565 patients had been placed in intensive case, a rise of 588 in 24 hours.

France is one of five countries, including the US, China, Italy and Spain, to have surpassed the threshold of 3,000 deaths.

France is not yet counting deaths outside hospitals, so the total number of deaths could potentially be higher.

Mar 31, 2020

Covid-19: UHAS To Begin Testing – Health Minister

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in the Volta Region will begin testing for COVID-19.

This was announced by Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu in Ho, when he paid a surprise visit to the regional capital to ascertain the preparedness and operations of the Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) regarding isolation and treatment of suspected/confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the enclave.

Dr. Letsa and Ag. CEO of HTH, Dr. Tampouri briefing Kwaku Agyeman-Manu

Mar 31, 2020

No Covid-19 Recorded In Koforidua

The Eastern Regional Health Directorate has debunked reports that there is a recorded coronavirus case in Koforidua.

According to the directorate, the number of suspected cases is 28 as at 30th March 2020 and were negative when tested.

Mar 31, 2020

US' coronavirus death toll surpasses China's

By BBC News

The United States’ death toll from coronavirus is now higher than that of China’s, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University. The US has reported 3,415 deaths, while in China, where the virus originated, the number stands at 3,309.

It comes as the country’s leading infectious disease expert says there is a “reasonably good chance” the US will face a second wave of coronavirus later this year.

Dr Anthony Fauci, from the National Institutes of Health, said a second wave was likely “given the pervasiveness of this infection and its transmissibility”. But if a second wave does happen, the US "will be much, much better prepared", he added.

The US would have better medical equipment and anti-viral drugs and a vaccine may be available by the time a second outbreak occurs, Dr Fauci said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Dr Fauci predicted the coronavirus pandemic could kill up to 200,000 Americans.

The US has 165,874 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the highest number in the world, figures from Johns Hopkins University showed.

Dr Anthony Fauci has become the face of the Trump administration's Coronavirus Task Force - Getty Images

Mar 31, 2020

Covid-19 Lockdown: MoMo Operators Cleared To Operate

Operators of mobile money in areas under the partial lockdown have been given the clearance to continue business.

President Akufo-Addo imposed a two-week partial lockdown on Accra, Tema, Kasoa, and Kumasi from Monday, March 30, 2020.

Mar 31, 2020

BREAKING Covid-19: Nine More Recorded; Cases Hit 161

Ghana has recorded additional nine new novel coronavirus cases.

All the nine cases were reported in Accra, the Ghana Health Service has confirmed.

Mar 31, 2020

COVID-19: Recovery Cases Now Three

Another Coronavirus patient has recovered.

This brings to 3, the total number of people who have recovered from the disease in the country.

Mar 31, 2020

Five Malians Suspected Of Covid-19 Quarantined In Northern Region

The Northern Regional Authorities have quarantined five Malians who were travelling from Kumasi to Tamale in the Northern Region.

The five were part of 78 passengers in a Malian registered vehicle which was intercepted by security officials in the region.

Mar 31, 2020

Covid-19: Health Officials At KATH Test Negative

Ten staff of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) who came into contact with some COVID-19 patients have all tested negative for the virus.

The ten include one doctor, seven nurses and two mortuary attendants.

Mar 31, 2020

COVID-19: 40 Persons In Self-Quarantine After Coming Into Contact With Obour’s Father

Some 40 persons are currently being monitored at Juaso in the Asante Akim South District of the Ashanti Region after a sub-chief in the area died of COVID-19.

The chief, Nana Osei Boansi Kuffour biological father of former Musician Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) President, Bice Osei Kuffuor popularly known as Obour died at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital after testing positive for Coronavirus.

Mar 31, 2020

Coronavirus Lockdown: High Level Of Compliance Observed At Kasoa

Kasoa and its environs is as silent as a ghost town amid a partial lockdown directive by President Akufo Addo in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

According to the directive, constituents are permitted to access essential services in a two week period of the partial lockdown.

Mar 31, 2020

No lockdown yet as Sierra Leone records first case of Covid-19

Sierra Leone which was the only West African country without a case of coronavirus has finally reported its first case.

In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, President Maada Bio announced that the index case is a 37 year old male who arrived in the country from France on an Air Brussels flight on the 16 March and was immediately put into quarantine.

Mar 31, 2020

BREAKING Italy death toll is 837 in past 24 hours

By BBC News

Italy has confirmed 837 more deaths from coronavirus, taking the country’s total to 12,428 - the highest toll in the world.

There are 2,107 new infections compared with Monday's figure of 1,648. The official total now is 77,635 cases. But the rate of new infections was higher four days ago.

Italy's government says 15,729 people have recovered from the virus. But among the dead were 66 doctors.

Mar 31, 2020

393 more deaths in UK

By BBC News

A further 393 people with coronavirus have died in the UK in the past day - the biggest daily total so far.

A total of 1,801 people have now died with the virus across the UK, including 367 more in England, 13 in Scotland, seven in Wales and six in Northern Ireland.

Mar 31, 2020

COVID-19 Museum To Be Built In Goka-Ghana, By WHO And UNESCO

As the Republic of Ghana waited anxiously in silence for the next move by their leader in times of crisis, the firmament sent down heavy rains on the roofs of the people of Goka.

Rains that left in its wake heroism in two lovers whose beautiful story built a museum in Ghana to mark adversity. A heavenly blessing that brought Goka back on the international map years after the demise of the renowned prophetess Maame Sarah. The long-forgotten pilgrim's pride and economic hub of the ancient Goka arose from comatose.

Mar 31, 2020

Covid-19 Lockdown: Police Escort Runaway Kayayes To North

The Nkawkaw Divisional Police Command on Monday cleared Kayaye passengers who were onboard two cargo vehicles to continue their journey to the North under Police escort.

“We don’t have the resources to keep them in my jurisdiction and they have to be sheltered and fed on daily basis. So we decided to allow them continue their journey, but under police escort,”Nkawkaw Divisional Commander, Kofi Adu told Anopa Kasapa Morning Show host, Kweku Owusu Adjei.

Mar 31, 2020

Covid-19: Gov’t Can’t Be Trusted With Heritage, Stabilisation Funds – Jantuah

A former chairman of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) is demanding government comes clear on how it is going to police the use of funds it is demanding from legally appropriated oil funds, for COVID-19 emergency expenditures.

According to Mr Kwame Jantuah, Ghanaians cannot trust government to use resources from the futuristic Heritage and the Stabilization Fund to mitigate the social and economic shocks of the Coronavirus pandemic without an accompanying clear accountability and transparency plan.

Mar 31, 2020

Prince Charles praises British Red Cross

By BBC News

The Prince of Wales has praised the British Red Cross in a series of tweets from the official Clarence House account.

Prince Charles, 71, spent seven days self-isolating in Scotland after testing positive and displaying mild symptoms of coronavirus. On Monday, it was announced he was now out of self-isolation.

The tweets said: "Last week, The Prince of Wales spoke on the phone to the chairman and chief executive of the British Red Cross to hear of the remarkable work the charity is doing in response to the Covid-19 crisis, both in the UK and overseas.

"The prince is proud to see how kindness is keeping people together and asked for his thanks and best wishes to be shared with everyone at the British Red Cross, who is responding so brilliantly. HRH has met many volunteers over the years, in his role as president.

"In the last few weeks, British Red Cross volunteers have been involved with supporting hospitals by helping people get discharged home safely, helping at food banks and sharing trusted, reliable information and checking in with vulnerable people and arranging deliveries."

The tweets included a number of file pictures of Prince Charles meeting British Red Cross members.