Ghana’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that it is putting in place a series of measures, including screening all passengers who fly to Ghana from China, to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Ghana.

China has recorded cases of Coronavirus which has killed nine people.

“As part of measures to prevent an outbreak in Ghana, passengers from China will undergo enhanced screening procedures, including the administration of health questionnaires. Health facilities have also been alerted to prepare and manage cases in case of outbreak,” a statement from the MoH noted.

The health authorities in China confirmed the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus in December 2019 after a series of reported cases of pneumonia of unknown cause.

The outbreak, linked to a local animal market, spread from animals to humans but has also been found to spread from one person to the other.

It can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes on another person.

Thailand, South Korea, Japan and the United Arab Emirates have also reported cases of the disease.

The statement, signed by sector minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, assured the public that Ghana has in-country capacity to diagnose the infection at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

The authorities have, however, cautioned the public to regularly wash their hands with soap and water, be distant from persons showing signs of fever and immediately seek treatment upon suspicion of infection.