A Clinical Microbiologist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Michael Owusu has said that Ghana must be on the lookout for new variants of the deadly Covid-19.

“What we have to be looking out for is perhaps another variant, so if a new variant comes in that is much stronger than Omicron, then we start the cycle again but for now, it is still Omicron.”

Speaking on The Pulse on Wednesday, the Virologist noted that research is still underway to examine the potential new variant after reports emerged that scientists in France have identified another worrying new variant having 46 mutations.

His warning comes in the wake of indications from the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the worst of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is over.

Tedros, at a news conference, noted that “vaccines may be less effective at preventing infection and transmission of Omicron than they were for previous variants, but they still are exceptionally good at preventing serious disease and death.”

Dr Michael Owusu, therefore, advised health authorities to shore up vaccination and to ensure strict enforcement of the safety protocols.

Last Tuesday, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, told the Ghana News Agency that the Service has developed a booster policy, which would soon be made known to the public.

According to him, the Service will soon start administering Covid-19 booster shots to stem the spread of the disease in the country.

The purpose of a Covid-19 booster shot is to give people an added level of protection from Covid-19 if their existing protection has waned over time.