NAPHS calls for closure of schools amidst outbreak of COVID-19 on campuses

The National Association of Public Health Students (NAPHS) following repeated cases of the virus in Senior High Schools (SHS) has joined calls for the closure of schools to prevent an outbreak.

A few weeks after school reopening with measures put in place by the government, some schools have started recording cases of Covid19.

The National President of the Association, Claudius B. Angsongna in a statement dated Friday, July 10, 2023, accused the government of not putting adequate measures in place before the partial school reopening.

The Association has also petitioned the Akufo-Addo government to consider testing of schools that have recorded cases of the locally transmitted coronavirus as it isolates persons with the disease.

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“We acknowledged some of the efforts the government kept in place to help reduce the spread, but we still call on the government to test all the students in the schools that have recorded cases, isolate the positive cases, and close down the schools to prevent further spread.” part of the statement read.

The Association is also calling on the Electoral Commission to halt the planned voter registration exercise for SHS students.

“In our view, the exercise will serve as an avenue for rapid transmission of the virus since the registration so far has seen wanton disregard to safety protocols.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister, Bernard Okoe-Boye has brushed off the calls for closure of schools.

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According to him, students and staff in some schools testing positive for the virus is not enough reason to shut down schools.

“Anywhere you test people, don’t be surprised to get a positive case that is why we should never get into the track of saying that because one positive case was recorded, schools must shut down…otherwise the whole world must shut down,” he told Accra-based Joy News.

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