Accra, Aug. 31, GNA – Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director General of Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said that children under five years will not be required to undergo COVID-19 testing at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) when the Airport reopens on September 1, 2020.
The Director General, who was speaking at a press briefing on the reopening of the Airport in Accra, explained that research revealed that children below the ages of five had low risk of contracting the virus.
He said air crew would also not be subjected to the mandatory testing at the Airport but would have to follow their own airline safety protocols.
“Ghanaians who travel outside and return in less than a week will be exempted from presenting the negative PCR test result”, the Director General added.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye said transit passengers who did not have to enter the country would not be subjected to the mandatory COVID-19 test at the Airport, adding that the objective was to reduce the transmission of the virus to passengers, travellers and staff and as well limit the importation of the virus into the country.
He said there was a digitised health declaration form for passengers to complete before arriving in the country, which would help the Port Health to assess the risk level of a passenger in addition to the PCR test.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye explained that passengers, who tested positive for COVID-19 would be handed over to the Port Health officals for further clinical assessment and management while those who tested negative, sent for necessary checks before exiting the Airport.
Mr Yaw Kwakwa, the Managing Director, Ghana Airport Company Limited said the Company was expecting a total of 1,200 passengers within its peak period following the reopening of the Airport.
GNA