Ghana has reviewed her COVID -19 protocols for international travellers with a view to averting a major surge.
The reviewed protocols were unvieled in the statement signed by Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, director General, Ghana Health Services.
The statement asserted that there had been a decline in COVID-19 cases in Ghana in prior to the global surge early number.
According to the DG, “There has been a decline in the number of Covid-19 cases in Ghana over the past two months until the global picture of COVID-19 changed since early November 2021.
“Globally several countries are experiencing their fourth wave. A number of travelers from these countries come to Ghana and this is expected to increase during the festive season. This current surge in COVID-19 cases is being reflected at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
“In November 2020, 168 cases were detected compared to 241 cases in November 2021, an increase of over 40%. We have since been recording an average of 20 positive cases a day at KIA.
He noted that for these positive cases, there is a significant difference in the percentage of COVID-19 infection based on vaccination status recorded at KIA. Available data from KIA, show that a COVID-19 positive
person is three times more likely to be unvaccinated.
He said,”The new variant, Omicron which is said to be more transmissible has been detected at our airport, the DG said.He added that of the 34 cases detected, 75% of them were unvaccinated. Over the last two weeks, cases from airport account for about 60% of the total cases recorded in the country.
According to Kuma-Aboagye, the current increase in cases together with the detection of the Omicron variant among international arrivals and the expected increase during the festive season calls for urgent actions to prevent a major surge in COVID-19 cases in Ghana.
“To avert this, the following directives are to be implemented effective midnight 12th December 2021:
For travelers to Ghana , the statement said “All persons 18 years and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of fullvaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine
“All unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents of Ghana who are currently outside the country and intend to return within 14 days from the midnight of 12th December 2021 are exempted. However, they would be vaccinated on arrival at the airport.
For those traveling out of Ghana, the new protocols say, “All Ghanaians travelling out of the country are to be fully vaccinated effective midnight 12th December 2021.
The statement defined being Fully Vaccinated thus: “A person is said to be fully vaccinated when he/she has taken the full dose of vaccines approved and
registered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana.
“You need two doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna or Sputnik V to be declared as Fully Vaccinated
“One dose is required for Johnson and Johnson to be declared fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccines approved and registered by FDA, Ghana, according to the statement include: AstraZeneca; Sputnik V;Johnson and Johnson;Pfizer and Moderna
Furthermore, the statement said other arrival requirements remain unchanged and they include: ” The 72-hour Negative PCR test requirement prior to travel;
“Completion of the Health Declaration Form
“All persons who arrive in Ghana will undergo Antigen test,” the statement concludes.
