“Let’s Not Be Complacent”, GHS Says As Country Has Just 4 Active COVID Cases

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has warned Ghanaians against being complacent over the four (4) active cases recorded in the country as the Christmas festive season approaches.

During a press conference in Accra, the Director General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye said the country has zero critical cases and 4 active cases as of December 16, 2022.

He noted that the country has seen a decline in COVID cases in the past three months but said, “let’s not be complacent with the four. We started with two. You never know how it goes”.

He noted that Ghana needs to up its game against the disease as countries like the US, Japan, France, China and Germany- from where tourists troop into Ghana during the yuletide- are seeing a rise in cases.

According to him, in the past 28 days, Japan has recorded 3.2 million cases; US 1.57 million; France 1.49 million; China 0.97 million; and Germany 0.77 million.

He recalls that the country witnesses a wave after every Christmas festivity.

GHS Preparation
Addressing the press, Dr Kuma Aboagye said the service is undertaking electronic disease surveillance across the 361 districts in the country as part of its preparation for a possible wave.

Additionally, he said, “we also have eleven video conferencing facilities in 11 regions and four fully functional public health emergency operation centres- this is where we process cases, discuss them and prepare our responses.

“We have also been making sure that we mainstream Covid management so that we move from the emergency mode in to a place where we can managand so based on that a lot of case management has been done- from testing to treatment.

“Our bed capacity for severe and critical cases was moved from 64 at the beginning of the pandemic to thousand one hundred and fifty. Early next year or before the end of the year we are adding 15 more treatment centres.

“We started with two labs but now we have 60 including a private centre lab. Early next week we are also deploying about four more P3 laboratories: one in Cape Coast, Accra, Hohoe and Sunyani.

“We also have continuous community engagement at all levels to ensure people remain informed about the disease and how to protect themselves.”

At Risk Places
He indicated that closed places like churches, mosques and other religious venues remain risk centres.

Additionally, he pinpointed stadia and other event venues like cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, and aeroplanes.

Vaccination
When it comes to vaccination, he said 21 million doses have been administered so far.

12,792,555 have taken one dose whereas 9,736,426 have been fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, 3,101,902 have taken one booster dose.

Recommendations
The GHS recommends that the general public adheres to protocols including wearing face masks, hand hygiene, social distancing and vaccination.

Protocols At Airport
In his submission, Dr Kuma Aboagye said all passengers, 18 years and above, arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination at the point of embarkation and upon arrival at the Kotoka International Airport.

Fully vaccinated arrivals in Ghana will not be required to undertake a PCR test before embarking or upon arrival, he said.

Children less than 18 years are exempted from pre-departure vaccination and PCR testing and testing on arrival.

Additionally, travellers who arrive under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights are not required to undergo any testing.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini