The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has urged the government to ramp up testing to deal with the increasing COVID-19 case count in Ghana.

The GMA in a press statement dated January 14, 2020, said testing "should be made free or relatively cheaper for the ordinary Ghanaian who needs testing as a result of direct exposure or when symptomatic for COVID-19"

The GMA also wants the government to implement free mass testing in all identified COVID-19 hotspots provided healthcare workers with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to help curb COVID-19 infections amongst healthcare staff.

"The GMA believes these will help address the current shortfalls in our testing and contact tracing regimes," the statement said.

Ghana’s active COVID-19 cases which were less than 800 before Christmas, has increased to 1,420 as at 11th January 2021.

Alarming COVID-19 situation

Describing the current COVID-19 situation in the country as "alarming and dire", the GMA said there was also the risk of an exponential rise in the number of cases.

The Association mentioned that major health facilities located in the capital which were involved in the management of COVID-19 cases were currently overstretched.

The GMA attributed the increase in cases to the total disregard for and the lack of enforcement of COVID_19 preventive protocols as well as the importation of cases via travellers from other countries.

"The COVID-19 situation in the country is alarming and dire at this particular moment. The risk of potential exponential rise in the number of cases cannot be discounted.

"The various major health facilities (especially in the Accra Metropolis) involved in the management of moderate, severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients are overstretched".