41 cases of Omicron variant recorded in Ghana- GHS
The Ghana Health Service is stepping up preventive measures at the Kotoka International Airport to curb increase.
Abena Takyiwaa 
Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye has revealed that seven more persons infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been detected in the country bringing the total number of cases to 41.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, who disclosed this on Sunday, on JOY News' programme The Probe, says the cases detected followed community testing, conducted after 34 cases were initially recorded at the Kotoka International Airport.
According to him, the delta variant is still leading here in Ghana despite the detection of the Omicron.
“We saw the first of about 34 cases that were recorded at the airport. At the time, we had sequenced about 66 community samples and they were all negative” but after a second batch of about 44 tests was conducted, seven more cases were detected,” he said.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) tweeted in December this year to announce the detection of 34 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country. These 34 cases were detected in 120 samples collected between November 21 and 25.
“The Omicron variant was detected in 28% (34 out of 120) of returning traveler samples".
“These are the first imported cases of the variant into Ghana, and we are closely monitoring its potential spread in the local population. We encourage the general public to continue adhering to the COVID-19 prevention protocols,” the NMIMR stated.
The Ghana Health Service, GHS have stepped up preventive measures at the Kotoka International Airport to curb increase.
The first directive from GHS was that all persons 18 years and above arriving in Ghana from December 12 must provide proof of full vaccination. The recent directive is the compulsory vaccination for both departing and arriving travellers, which is currently being challenged by many.
