More than 32 deaths have been recorded in Ghana from COVID-19 related diseases between January 1 and 24, this year, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, announced on Monday.
He said the third phase of COVID-19 surge in the country was very severe and deadly than the surges in July and September last year.
Currently, 372 persons have succumbed to the Coronavirus disease since Ghana recorded its first case on March 12, last year.
The active cases have increased from 800 to 3,613 as of January 22, 2021, with 62,135 cumulative cases.
Giving an update on the spread of COVID-19 during a media briefing in Accra on Monday, Dr Kumah-Aboagye said due to the severity of the new wave of infections, the GHS will soon begin Antigen testing in suspected outbreaks in schools and workplaces.
Additionally, Antigen test would be used in hospitals when health workers there had been exposed to the virus, and also use it in selected health facilities.
At the moment, Antigen Test is used at the country’s airport and produce Covid-19 test results within 30 minutes.
Dr Kumah-Aboagye said public health facilities would now offer 24-hour service and intensify Contact Tracing using public transport system like Bolt.
He advised the management of companies and organizations in the country to decongest staff at their workplaces and use virtual services instead.
Dr Kumah-Aboagye urged the public to comply with the preventive and safety protocols as well as the wearing of nose masks.
He said the entire West African Subregion was experiencing an upsurge in COVID-19 infections, noting that the new COVID-19 variants detected in Ghana were similar to those found in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
However, he said, the nation is yet to confirm a community spread of the new COVID-19 variants as genome sequencing is still ongoing.
He entreated the GHS and the media to continue collaborating in educating the public on the threat posed by the virus to improve compliance with the safety rules.
