Covid-19 is currently in its fifth wave in Ghana

The fifth wave of the coronavirus is currently affecting Ghana, according to Dr. Michael Owusu, a virologist at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR).

He claimed that the Omicron variant's BA.4 category is responsible for the recent wave, and he added that poor adherence to safety precautions and vaccine resistance will probably make the anticipated wave difficult to predict.

In contrast to earlier forms of the virus, which only affected around 40% of the population, the new variety is predicted to affect about 90% of the population.

"Even though I don't think the new variation will be very lethal, I think it'll be the most contagious one yet.

I anticipate that the President will review the E.I. as the pattern shifts and possibly make some changes, particularly to the control measures.

He said, "The figures we see on the screen - 203 [active cases] - as of this morning, I feel it's almost two or three times that amount because I have observed that with this current wave, we are now in the fifth wave.

The best approach to assure adequate protection against the virus, according to Dr. Owusu, is to receive the doses of the vaccination plus booster shots.

He advised people to think about being immunized before things get out of hand.

"I don't see why people think the west tampered with the vaccination. Look at me; I've taken all of my medicines and am currently in excellent condition. Even evidence from the East confirms the vaccine's efficacy, therefore I find it incomprehensible that people have this mindset. You should be able to make an informed decision about the circumstance even if President Akufo-Addo is not ordering you to wear a mask.

"Unfortunately, society targets those who choose to cover up in public. People criticize those who are merely making an effort to take care of themselves and others, the KNUST instructor noted.

Other viruses and infections, like cholera and meningitis, have also witnessed a decline as a result of the safety precautions that Covid-19 has educated the population to follow, according to Dr. Michael Owusu.

"This new variation targets more individuals than before, mainly newborns and the elderly, thus it is more crucial than ever for us to begin taking safety measures. To safeguard the most vulnerable members of the population, we must implement safety precautions and administer the vaccination.

Only 20.6% of Ghanaians are fully immunized, and more than 10 million people have not yet received any type of immunization, according to Our World in Data.

Experts say the new wave will continue to persist throughout the remainder of June and the entire month of July.

It is likely to peak towards the beginning of September.