With a significant number of international arrivals expected in the country during the festive season, the Director-General (DG) of Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has cautioned Ghanaians to be wary about the spread of Covid-19.
According to the DG, cases of Covid-19 have, for the past 28 days, been recorded in Japan, United States, France, Italy, China and Germany.
While Japan and US have recorded 3.2m and 1.57m cases respectively, France and Italy have also recorded 1.49m and 0.85m respectively. China has recorded 0.97m, while Germany has recorded 0.77m.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said citizens and Ghanaians from these countries would visit Ghana, hence the need to take precautionary measures.
“In the past 28 days, the following numbers of cases have been recorded in the following countries… A significant number of international arrivals are expected from these countries during the Christmas season…” Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said, and admonished people to take precautions.
He made the comments at a media conference organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra yesterday.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said in response to this likely upsurge due to international travels, Covid-19 measures at the Kotoka International Airport had been heightened.
He indicated that “All passengers; Ghanaians, non-Ghanaians, resident foreigners 18 years and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine at the point of embarkation and upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport (KIA). “Fully vaccinated arrivals will not be required to do a PCR test before embarkation and also exempted from COVID-19 testing upon arrival at the KIA. “Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated persons will be required to present a negative 48hrs PCR test result to the airline before embarkation and upon arrival and will undergo COVID-19 testing at the KIA upon arrival.” Aside these, the GHS DG also made special recommendations for some events.
Recommendations for gatherings
He said irrespective of the size of a church or mosque the use of air-conditioning was very important. He, however, indicated that in the absence of air-conditioning, face masks should be used  by all worshipers at all times during worship, adding that persons using shared microphones in particular were encouraged to ensure that they are in masks at all times.
He continued that hand hygiene facilities such as veronica buckets and hand sanitisers are to be provided at all such venues, and leaders are advised to encourage members to appropriately use such facilities as well the observation of social distancing.
“Persons who are unvaccinated should take advantage of the ongoing vaccination campaigns and get vaccinated before attending such programmes and for those already fully vaccinated, a booster dose is recommended, “he indicated.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye noted that the GHS has the capability and preparedness to support such surges but people should follow the precautionary measures so that there won’t be a surge.
“The message is clear; we are moving into a season where the risk of the surge in the numbers is rife.
“Let’s make sure that we abide by the protocols; Let’s do many things in the open as possible , where gatherings can be avoided let’s avoid them and where we can maintain social distancing let’s maintain them so that we don’t experience a surge,” he said.
