Seven cases of the fast-spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected during community testing, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed.
This brings the total number of the Omicron variants detected in the country to 41, a situation that has heightened fears for a potential fourth wave in Ghana.
Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has explained that following the previous detection of 34 cases of the new variant at the Kotoka International Airport, the Service sequenced about 66 community samples, which were all negative.
But during the second round of community testing of about 44 samples, seven of the new variants were detected.
“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,” Dr Kuma-Aboagye told Joy News.
He, however, disclosed that the dominant variant in the Ghanaian communities remains the Delta variant.
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The Omicron variant was first detected in Ghana on November 21 among passengers who arrived in Ghana from Nigeria and South Africa.
Last week, the government instituted new rules for persons arriving in the country, including a directive that airlines that bring in unvaccinated passengers would be fined $3,500 per person.
This new directive comes amid a surge in the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 in Europe, the UK and the US.
In a statement announcing new plans to guard against another wave of COVID-19 infections, the authorities said effective Tuesday, December 14, 2021, persons flying in and out of the country are to be fully vaccinated and to strictly follow stipulated guidelines for both self-preservation and the protection of the larger society.
The GHS Director-General also said a surge in the COVID-19 cases among international arrivals was expected largely due to an anticipated increase in the number of arrivals.
He encouraged Ghanaians to get vaccinated as vaccination was the best intervention for breaking transmission of any infectious disease, reduced hospitalisation and disruption of social and economic activities.