Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to respect the Covid-19 safety protocols amid the outbreak of the Omicron variant.

In his New Year message posted on Friday, December 31, he cautioned the citizenry to be conscious of their health during the celebrations.

He noted that “over the last two weeks, many people are nursing colds and flu-like symptoms, but with most people not going for a Covid-19 test, it is being attributed to the seasonal harmattan weather.”

The 2020 presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) advised unvaccinated persons to get vaccinated, saying it is the surest way to contain the spread of the virus.

According to him, “the yuletide season was characterised by super-spreader events such as mega concerts, street carnivals and beach parties.”

“Please get vaccinated if you haven't done so yet. If you have, go for your second dose. Let's also observe the COVID protocols. Observe social distancing, wash your hands as frequently as possible, avoid handshakes, use hand sanitisers and wear a mask.”

“The New Year season is here. Let's be more conscious of our health as we pray for health workers because of the more transmissible omicron variant,” he urged.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews, President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Frank Serebuor, said there is a rising number of cases in health facilities across the country.

He disclosed that some doctors have already contracted the virus following the emergence of the Omicron variant, which is fueling the fourth wave.

“Truth of the matter is that we are having a lot of cases in the hospitals at the moment. We have some of our doctors who are testing positive. A lot of the nurses are testing positive.”

“As I speak to you, I am in a very small facility, but I can tell you that, three of my doctors, we are only seven doctors, three of us have already tested positive, and it’s not like they’re asymptomatic. They’re symptomatic,” he revealed.