COVID-19: Ghana’s active cases drop to 6,567, death toll now 572

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At least four more persons have died of COVID-19 taking Ghana’s death toll to 572 , officials say.

The country’s active cases now stand at 6,567 after 490 new coronavirus cases were confirmed at the laboratories.

As at 17 February 2021, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) reports that the country’s total confirmed cases increased to 79,655 out of which 72,516 have recovered.

So far, 92 persons are in severe condition while 28 remain critical, according to GHS. Cases detected at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) are 1,197 with 1,017 recoveries.

Breakdown of regional cases:

Greater Accra Region – 45,946

Ashanti Region – 13,966

Western Region – 4,681

Eastern Region – 3,521

Central Region – 2,783

Volta Region – 1,524

Bono East Region – 1,081

Upper East Region – 964

Northern Region – 901

Bono Region – 894

Western North Region – 793

Ahafo Region – 645

Upper West Region – 339

Oti Region – 272

Savannah Region – 72

North East Region – 61

Safe Vaccine
Government has assured that the COVID-19 vaccines arriving in the country are safe as it targets to vaccinate some 20 million Ghanaians.

Officially announcing a roll out plan for the vaccines at a stakeholder engagement forum on Friday 19 February 2021, minister of information-designate Kojo Oppong Nkrumah explained that discussions have been ongoing with industry experts to settle on comprehensive roll out plan for the vaccines.

“As you have followed in recent weeks during the president’s addresses, Ghana is been working on a vaccination roll out programme and has been working to determine which vaccines, when, what quantities, what are the segments of the population, what are the cost to countries who receive the vaccines among others.”

“Today, we are in a position where we can formally inform the nation of where we are on this journey,” Nkrumah noted. He acknowledged that the engagement was important particularly to help cure the long held misconception by some sections of the public that the vaccines are harmful and should not be administered.

Nkrumah said it is important to take inputs from stakeholders in order to demystify this long held misconception and to further engage them on the roll out of the vaccines hence the need for the forum.

Source: asaaseradio.com