The sod-cutting ceremony was done virtually due to the social-distancing protocol and the restriction on huge gatherings.
The construction is being funded through a Public-Private-Partnership under the leadership of the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund with assistance from the 48-Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The project is expected to be completed in six weeks.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo disclosed these in his televised address to the state on Sunday on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during which he announced lifting of the restriction of movement imposed on parts of Accra and Kumasi.
The facility, he said, is to augment current expansion of the network of COVID-19 treatment centers after the Ga East and Bank of Ghana Hospitals were dedicated 100% to the fight.
According to him, separate coronavirus treatment centers have also been set aside at the University of Ghana Medical School Hospital, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi South Hospital and other designated regional and district hospitals.
He added that 100 regional and district tuberculosis gene expert laboratories across the country are being recalibrated to help ensure there is a minimum situation of one testing center per region.
The President disclosed that domestic production of personal protective equipment (PPEs) have been scaled up with healthcare facilities taking delivery of 14,550 scrubs, 11,900 gowns, 19,980 head covers, 263,28 nose masks and 13,002 N-95 nose masks.
41,117 varying sizes of sanitizers, he said, have also been produced locally and delivered to health facilities.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the overwhelming majority of the confirmed cases have come from travelers or from people who have come into contact with travelers.
“It is, therefore, incumbent on us to continue to be vigilant about travelers into our country until further notice,” he stated.
Since the first two cases of infections were recorded the government has traced 86,000 contacts, out of which the test results of 68,591 contacts have been received with a backlog of 18,000.
1,042 persons out of this number, i.e. 1.5%, have been confirmed positive of the coronavirus and the 67,549, i.e. 98.5%, testing negative.
99 persons have recovered and have been discharged while 930 persons, who have been isolated, are responding to treatment either in their homes or in treatment facilities.
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By: Uthman A. Marani/Frontpageghana.com/ghana
