He appealed to the media to endeavour to contact and double check their facts from these health organisations on the COVID-19 pandemic in order not to misinformed.

Speaking at a day's sensitization workshop on the COVID-19 organised by the directorate for some selected media personnel in Sunyani, Dr Issah cautioned the local media to be circumspect and guard against any publication that has the potential to stigmatize and discriminate against infected people.

About 50 journalists and media practitioners selected from electronic and print media benefited from the workshop which sensitized them on the symptoms and mode of transmission of the coronavirus.

He said stigma and discrimination would make it extremely difficult to trace the contacts of the COVID-19 infected person, which would contribute to the spread of the disease.

Dr Issah assured the public of the confidentiality of infected people, and called on the public to support the GHS to identify and investigate suspected cases of the COVID-19 in local communities.

He said the GHS has heightened its surveillance in the three regions saying all bigger health facilities created holding rooms to contain suspected cases.

Dr Issah explained that currently 24 key staff of the directorate are under-going intensive training on the COVID-19 in Accra to support the management of the disease.