COVID-19: Omicron variant detected at KIA

Ghanaians have been assured that all protocols have been intensified at the airport to ensure that there will be no community spread.

COVID-19: Omicron variant detected at KIA
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has announced that the GHS has detected the COVID-19 Omicron variant at the  Kotoka International Airport (KIA), during a presentation at the launch of Ghana’s Covid-19 vaccination month which starts today,  Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

According to the service, it was discovered on Sunday, November 21, 2021, by a Nigerian traveller.

It however said the variant has not yet been discovered within the community.

Ghanaians have been assured that all protocols have been intensified at the airport to ensure that there will be no community spread.

“The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 disease has been found at the Kotoka International Airport. The good thing is that in the community test done so far, we have not seen any Omicron within the community of Ghana, but the danger is that if someone has the Omicron, and it is incubating, it will not be found at the airport" Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said.

Countries reported having recorded cases of the new COVID variant include Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Nigeria, Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel,  United Kingdom and a host of other countries with South Africa, recording about 77 cases.

The new mutation which is potentially more transmissible was first discovered in South Africa and has since been detected in several countries.

  Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu