Education Minister Opoku Prempeh discharged from hospital with a positive COVID-19 test
The Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been discharged from hospital. He is yet to test negative though.
The development is in line with the new discharge protocol by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) informed by the new World Health Organisation (WHO) Discharge Guidelines.
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Dr Opoku Prempeh was receiving treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) until he was discharged.
In a press statement issued Wednesday, July 8, 2020, by his press secretary, Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng, Dr Opoku Prempeh explained that he was discharged from the UGMC "with a positive rapid antibody test result and will be further monitored."
He explained that he was currently at "home resting and would like to thank all those who wished him well during his time in hospital."
Read also: Education Minister detained at UGMC, awaiting COVID-19 results
Per the Ghana Health Service Discharge Guidelines, if a person remains without symptoms [asymptomatic] for 14 days (10 days for WHO) from day of test, he/she is discharged from isolation (de-isolated).
They may remain positive for several weeks but new evidence shows they do not pose an infectious risk to the general population.
Persons with mild infection (ie mild or no symptoms) may continue shedding the virus but shedding does not equate infectiousness.
A negative or repeat test is no longer necessary for de-isolation, according to the GHS.
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