Health experts in the country say some persons who have tested positive for Covid-19 showed no related disease symptoms.

Describing this as risky, one of the experts, a lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School, Rev. Professor Kwamena Sagoe, urged everyone to strictly adhere to the safety protocols and also assist government in its quest to halt the chain of infection.

Citing an ongoing study conducted by the Department of Medical Microbiology at a primary health facility, Dr Sagoe revealed, "we are finding people who come with malaria-like symptoms from the community. They do RDT, and they do Covid and some turns out to have Covid, so it’s out there in the community, and it’s risky.

"His concern was that ‘there is something that we probably are not picking, why some are not showing severe symptoms, and that’s why people think it’s not there." 

Dr Sagoe is, however, hopeful that "if everyone does the right things", the situation may get better.

The Ghana Health Service has already indicated that the country is experiencing a third wave of the pandemic [Delta variant], which is already a cause of concern for the Ghana Medical Association.

Its general secretary Dr Justice Yankson is quoted as saying on JoyNews’ analysis show Newsfile that "as for the health professionals we will do our best. But some of the activities really go beyond us in terms of what has to be done."

He further expressed his discontent at what he says is authorities not showing leadership "this pretence or behaviour such that we don’t really want to touch what must be touched is not helping us."

As the Association keeps hammering how full covid-19 intensive care units are and how overwhelmed their members are, Dr Sageo asks everyone, even persons who have been vaccinated, to continue to adhere to the protocols strictly.

"Definitely, I know that people who have got both jabs are getting covid and are getting to hospitals. So it’s not as granted that because I have gotten the two jabs, I am necessarily protected."

To buttress his point, Dr Sageo reminded such persons that "you take the vaccines, you’ve not checked whether you are responding to the vaccine, and yet you are assuming that you are protected neurologic by having antibodies."

He further warned, "it’s not necessarily true because some people may take the jabs and may not respond."

The country’s vaccination drive is being intensified with the approval of two more vaccines by the Food and Drugs Authority.

Head of vaccines and biological products at the Authority, Dr Edwin Nkansah, says this brings the total number of approved Covid-19 vaccines in Ghana to five.

They are Sputnik V, Covishield, Covid 19 vaccines Jassen, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.

According to Dr Nkansah, effective storage facilities have been made available so that they can sustain and maintain the integrity of the vaccines "we have a solid cold chain logistic and the expanded program of immunization is well stocked with the required facilities; to contain them."  

He also assured ‘the FDA will never release vaccines when it notes that storage has been compromised."

Dr Nanssah also reiterated that no private individual or organisations will import any of these vaccines.

The security services have also stepped up their efforts to complement government’s efforts in halting the virus spread.

The Ghana Immigration Service has announced that it is conducting tests for all applicants applying for immigration permits. 

A statement signed by the head of public affairs at the Service Superintendent Micheal Amoako-Atta noted that this is a mandatory Covid-19 test imposed on all non-Ghanaians applying for a work permit renewal of work permit and extension of visitors permit, and it will start from August 11.

According to Superintendent Amoako-Atta, the test can be conducted at the facility on the premises of the Ghana immigration service headquarters at the cost of ¢150 and will be run concurrently with the normal medical examinations that are conducted for immigration permits.

By this, the service is serving notice that no permit will be issued unless applicants produce a covid-19 test result from the GIS clinic, and anyone who wishes to go there for their tests can also do so.