Ghana’s Coronavirus cases have increased 1,042.This was announced by President Akufo-Addo during his seventh address to the nation on the outbreak today, Sunday, April 19, 2020.

“Since the first two cases of infections were recorded on our shores, we have all, till date, traced some 86,000 contacts, out of which we have test results of 68,591 contacts. The overwhelming majority of these contacts have been established in the last three weeks of the partial lockdown in Accra and Kumasi”

“Out of this number, 1, 042 persons, i.e. 1.5%, have been confirmed as positive, with 67, 549 i.e. 98.5%, testing negative; 99 persons have recovered and have been discharged; and 930 persons, who have been isolated are responding to treatment either in their homes or in treatment facilities.” the president further disclosed

President Nana Akufo-Addo also lifted restrictions imposed on the movement of persons within some parts of the country.

Addressing the nation in a televised broadcast, the President said the decision which takes effect from Monday, April 20, follows achievements made with aggressive contact tracing and enhanced testing capacities which have made it possible to contain the spread in Ghana.

Four major cities, Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa, had been placed under a three-week lockdown purposely to hold the spread of the coronavirus.

The initial two-week restrictions imposed on these areas saw a further seven days extension as the nation waited for test results from some 14,000 samples taken, the President stated in his last address to the nation.

Although the lifting of the restrictions may come as a reprieve to the many whose livelihoods may have been hit hard following the imposition, access to some major sectors remains restricted.

Th country’s borders remain closed.

Also, the ban on social gatherings, including religious gatherings as well as the strict adherence social distancing protocol, remain in place, the President said.