Dr John Eleeza, Northern Regional Director of Health, who announced this at a press briefing in Tamale on Thursday, said a first status test recently carried out on the nine patients showed that six were negative and three remained positive.

Dr Eleeza, who could not tell when results of the second test would be released, said based on the protocols, if patients recorded a second negative test, it meant that they were free of the disease and would be discharged.

The press briefing was to update journalists on the COVID-19 status recorded in the region.

The region recorded 10 positive cases of COVID-19 on March 29, made up of eight Guineans and two Burkinabes.

However, one of the Guineans escaped from the quarantine facility, where she was receiving treatment and has since not been found.

Dr Eleeza said results of 19 suspected COVID-19 cases in the region were pending and would soon be released.

He urged residents to continue to observe the precautionary measures to help contain the disease.