By Yvonne Atilego
The Ghana Health Service has directed that all persons 18 years and above arriving in Ghana from December 12, 2021 must provide proof of full vaccination. This is part of new modifications made by the Service to its protocols regarding foreign travel through the Kotoka International Airport.
The statement notes that all unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents who are currently outside the country and intend to return within 14 days from the midnight of 12th December 2021 are exempted. This group, however, will be vaccinated on arrival at the airport. The Service deems this directive necessary based on the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the wake of the new Omicron variant.
A statement from the Service signed by its Director General Dr Patrick Kumah Aboagye said the current increase in cases together with the detection of the Omicron variant among international arrivals and the expected increase during the festive season calls for urgent actions to prevent a major surge in COVID- 19 cases in Ghana.
Omicron:
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization, WHO, says 10 African countries account for 46% of Omicron cases reported globally. It says the majority of these countries are within Southern Africa, where scientists are being extra-vigilant for other cases and are analyzing samples to check for changes to the virus.
The WHO adds that hospitalization rates and severe cases remain low in South Africa. However, research is still ongoing.
So far, no coronavirus deaths have been linked to the Omicron variant and travel bans will not stop the virus from circulating.
The Health body notes that getting vaccines into people’s arms will prevent the virus from mutating further.
In Africa, only Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia, Seychelles, Cape Verde and Botswana have reached the global target of vaccinating 40 % of their populations so far.