Ghanaian officials on Thursday confirmed two more cases of coronavirus (Covid-19), bringing the country’s total number of infections to nine. 

The country's information minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, said via his official Twitter account: "Covid-19 Update. Unfortunately we have confirmed two more cases overnight. Ghana’s case count is now at nine. Health services are still managing all suspected and confirmed cases well."

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said that one of the patients is a 56-year-old male Ghanaian who returned to Accra from a trip to the United Kingdom (UK) about a week ago. The other is a 33-year-old Ghanaian man who returned to Accra from a conference in The United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"On the 18th March, we received another report form Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) indicating two more confirmed cases from the Greater Accra Region.

"Both cases are receiving treatment in isolation. [None of the infected have died]. Yesterday, we received notification from KCCR (a joint venture with the ministry of health)  indicating two newly confirmed cases in Kumasi. On contact tracing, a total of 399 contacts have been identified and are being followed up."

The GHS said via its official website that 19 of the contacts developed some form of symptoms and samples had been taken for laboratory testing. Of those, 15 tests had returned negative. Four test results were pending.  

The patients are in isolation and responding to treatment, according to the government.