Countries have started endorsing vaccine campaigns as the new COVID-19 variant happens to be spreading at an escalating rate. Recently, President Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana warned of a crisis in the hospitals amid the pandemic. As much as health officials strive to ensure patients’ well-being, the situation with the new variant might be overwhelming.
The upsurge of the New COVID-19 Variant
The situation in Ghana is not any better than the countries that have reported the new variant. On Sunday, the Ghanian President addressed the possibility of too much work in health units. He attributes that to the constant increase in the new COVID-19 variant in the country. The variant is highly contagious hence easily affects immunocompromised patients. As such, any delay may trigger the rise of multiple cases, with many victims testing positive.
“Our COVID-19 treatment centers have gone from having zero patients to now being full because of the upsurge in infections. At this current rate, our healthcare infrastructure will be overwhelmed, ” the President said.
According to the President, coronavirus cases in the country have recorded a spike. Recent lab tests revealed that the number of active cases in the country has risen to 1924 from about 900. And the number of severe cases has increased from 18 to 200. The rises are significant as they show that the virus is simultaneously taking a toll in the country.
However, coronavirus cases in Ghana have still not hit the peak. Meanwhile, since the new cases are increasing at an alarming rate, chances are they will reach a peak very soon. Nonetheless, the President stated that he would impose a partial lockdown like he did the previous year if the cases reach the peak. That is despite the lockdown having an impact on the economy of Ghana.
According to the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the second wave of coronavirus, popularly known as the new variant, is infecting people at a high rate. Compared to the first coronavirus, the new wave is infecting twice as many people. The tremendous cases have raised concerns worldwide. States in continents like Europe have already started administering vaccines, beginning with the most vulnerable groups. However, the underdeveloped countries with monetary difficulty are having a hard time accessing the vaccines.
Vaccination Plans of Ghana
Many countries have embarked on coronavirus campaigns as a strategy to contain its spread. In Africa, countries like Kenya and Seychelles are already administering the vaccines. With most supplies of the vaccine coming from China, governments are optimistic they will curb the virus. South Africa, which happens to be the first originators of the virus, is currently on the front line as its nationalists are being immunized.
Akufo Ado stated that Ghana would kick off its vaccination process soon enough. He also said that laboratories were conducting researches to determine the presence and the extent of the new variants in the general population. Moreover, as some people traveling from abroad to their countries were responsible for transporting the virus, they would impose stringent measures at the airport. Last week, Gambia reported its first case of the new variant. And apparently, the variant is similar to the one researchers discovered in Britain.
MORE:
