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Ghana plans to review its COVID protocols following a surge in global cases, especially in China.
Health authorities in the West African country said in a statement issued on Sunday (1 January 2023) that it has become imperative to tighten the measures to avert further outbreaks in the West African country.
“There has been a decline and sustained low levels of COVID-19 cases in Ghana over the past three months,” the Ghana Health Service’s (GHS) statement said. “However, the change in the global situation particularly with a reported increase in new cases in China and other countries as well as Ghana’s relatively low vaccine coverage poses a major threat of importation and a new wave of COVID-19 infection in the country.”
“This situation calls for tightening and reviewing of existing measures to avert further outbreaks. Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health are critically monitoring the situation in consultation with key stakeholders,” the statement added.
This action follows a call by members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) on health authorities to evaluate the COVID-19 situation in China and advise Ghanaians ahead of the lifting of travel restrictions to China.
China is set to lift its travel ban on January 8, 2023. China introduced travel restrictions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
GUTA in a statement said COVID-19 is still prevalent in China, and thus, called on GHS to “examine and evaluate the situation and advise Ghanaian travellers.”
“From the information we gathered, China will on the 8th of January 2023 remove all restrictions on travel to the country”.
But the GHS statement said plans were advanced to “come out with our country-specific measures to address the current threat of COVID-19, especially with respect to importation.”
The health service has since called on Ghanaians to get vaccinated to protect themselves.
“We want to use this opportunity to encourage all Ghanaians who have not availed themselves of the COVID-19 vaccination to do so,” the statement said. “Those who have taken their first dose are to go for the second dose and those who have taken their second dose are also entreated to go for the booster.”
It added: “Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19 infection.”
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH and News Agencies
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