13 more Ghanaians succumb to COVID-19; death toll now 518

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13 more Ghanaians have succumbed to COVID-19 related infections pushing the death toll to an alarming 518, reports the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

As at 9 February 2021, 771 new coronavirus cases were recorded increasing the country’s active cases to 7,754 , the GHS COVID-19 dashboard signals.

Airport cases

The total confirmed cases now stand at 75,118 out of which 66, 846 have recovered after 827, 784 tests were conducted. Cases detected at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) are 1,168 with 943 recoveries.

So far, 106 persons are in severe situation while 29 remain critical, according to GHS.

Regional Confirmed cases

Greater Accra Region – 43,928

Ashanti Region – 13,464

Western Region – 4,325

Eastern Region – 3,239

Central Region – 2,514

Volta Region – 1,247

Bono East Region – 922

Northern Region – 802

Bono Region – 763

Upper East Region – 755

Western North Region – 747

Ahafo Region – 624

Oti Region – 256

Upper West Region – 254

Savannah Region – 68

North East Region – 42

Vaccine to cost Ghana US$200 million

Meanwhile, government of Ghana is spending over US$200 million to procure COVID-19 vaccine for the entire population.

Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at GHS, said the price of the vaccine available presently ranged from US$4 to US$20 and that would be the cost at which every Ghanaian would be vaccinated.

He told the GNA that the first consignment of the vaccine would arrive in the country by the end of February.

“The goal is to vaccinate every Ghanaian and presently we are in excess of USD 200 million,” he said.

Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said the GHS was opting for readily available vaccines to ensure that the vaccination process was not prolonged.

A vaccine is a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases.

It is prepared from the causative agent of a disease; its products are treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.

Experts say it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after vaccination, meaning it is possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick.

Based on existing knowledge on vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also help keep one from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.

If one gets vaccinated, it may also protect people around him or her, particularly, people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.