Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has addressed concerns in Parliament regarding the current COVID-19 situation, emphasizing that the Omicron variant is not a new virus and that Ghana is not reverting to the pandemic conditions experienced in 2020.
During a detailed update on the floor of Parliament, Minister Mintah Akandoh reassured lawmakers and the public that the country is well-equipped to manage the ongoing cases.
He stated firmly, “Mr. Speaker, I want to assure Ghanaians that this is not a new virus, and we are not back to 2020.”
The Minister explained that the Omicron variant, which has been detected previously, is characterized by rapid transmission but generally causes mild illness.
“This Omicron variant has been with us before. It spread fast, yes, but it is mostly mild, and we know how to manage it,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to overcome the current wave, highlighting the success in managing more severe outbreaks in the past.
“We have beaten back bigger waves before, and we can do it again. With calm, cooperation, and good public health practices.”
Minister Mintah Akandoh clarified that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer included in Ghana’s routine immunization schedule, aligning with practices in many other countries.
Providing an update on the current case numbers, the Minister reported that there are 316 suspected cases, with 107 confirmed positive for COVID-19.
Importantly, he noted that “there have been no hospitalizations or deaths linked to the current outbreak.”
He further assured Parliament stating that “Mr. Speaker so far, the outbreak is limited to the university community. It has not spread widely to other parts of Accra or the rest of the country.”
Source : www.kumasimail.com Kwadwo Owusu
