Ghana’s confirmed COVID-19 count has reached 636 after 70 additional cases of the coronavirus were recorded.

A total of 44,421 persons, as of 13th April 2020 have been tested with 636 being positive for COVID-19.

The breakdown of the 636 positive cases are as follows: 17 have been treated, reverted to negative on repeat tests and discharged, 605 cases have been categorized as mild disease and are on treatment, two are categorized as moderate to severe cases, none in critical state currently and eight have died.

In the past two weeks since the institution of enhanced surveillance, restriction of movement and continuous public education to prevent the spread of cases of COVID-19, several cases have been recorded as a result of intensive contact tracing and testing.

The Ghana Health Services (GHS), which disclosed this on its portal, indicated that of the 636 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 268 were reported from the routine surveillance, 253 from enhanced surveillance activities and 115 from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale.

“Regions that have reported cases include Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Western, Volta, Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions,” the GHS said.

The numbers tested account for a per capita testing to 1,265 per 1,000,000, the highest in Africa followed by SA with a per capita testing of 1,161 per million population and 14th in the world.

Aggressive tracing, testing, and treatment have been the approach adopted to get ahead of the virus and contain COVID-19.

The government is set to open new diagnostic centers in areas including Kpong, CSIR, and VSD, etc and also expand the resting capability with the use of Rapid Test Kits and upgrading of many more labs.

Meanwhile, aggressive contact tracing, testing, and management in the focused areas-Kumasi, Accra and Tema will continue in addition to enhanced surveillance in the remaining regions.