COVID-19 Still a Public Health Concern – Ghana Health Service Warns
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has cautioned the general public that COVID-19 remains a persistent threat in the country, despite a decline in reported cases and global attention.
According to the GHS, the virus has never been eradicated since its emergence in 2020, and recent developments suggest that complacency could lead to renewed outbreaks.
Speaking in an interview with Citi FM on Thursday, June 26, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, emphasized that COVID-19 continues to circulate at low levels across Ghana, even though it is no longer classified as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“COVID never left. It has been with us since 2020. Last year, the Director-General of the WHO announced that COVID was no longer a public health emergency of international concern. That did not mean the virus was gone. If it were, the WHO would have declared an official end to the pandemic,” Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe explained.
His comments follow the detection of new infections at the University of Ghana, which the GHS has traced to a recent hall week celebration on campus.
“There was a large student gathering, and because one of the attendees was infected, the virus spread within that cluster,” he noted. “This incident is not unprecedented. We have been recording sporadic cases even after the pandemic phase was declared over.”
In response to the recent spike, the University of Ghana has suspended all social gatherings, a move the GHS has endorsed as a responsible and proactive step to limit further transmission.
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe further urged all institutions and members of the public to reintroduce basic preventive measures, including:
- Proper hand hygiene
- Wearing of face masks in crowded places
- Seeking prompt medical attention for symptoms resembling COVID-19
The University of Ghana, in an official statement, confirmed the presence of both suspected and confirmed cases on campus. The University also outlined a series of enhanced health surveillance and safety protocols to manage the situation.
While health authorities stress that there is no need for panic, they are encouraging Ghanaians to remain alert and cautious.
“The fact that COVID is no longer making headlines does not mean it is no longer a threat,” Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe warned. “We must continue to treat it seriously.”
Credit: myjoyonline.com
