Director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Prof Gordon Awandare, has called for regular COVID-19 testing at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to prevent the importation of the new Omicron variant into the country.
Speaking to Benjamin Akakpo on Prime Morning, on Monday, he said the new variant has a new range of mutations that exceeds what has been experienced by the country, therefore the need to beef up testing at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to avert a new wave.
Prof Awandare stated that the emergence of the South African Omicron variant is worrying because it would demand vigorous sequencing to trace its transmission patterns.
"The fact that the numbers are increasing rapidly suggests that it has a growth advantage; in other words, it replicates better or faster than the existing virus that is why it is able to increase in cases in a short time."
"I think the testing on arrival is a very important chow in our cake. And our work over the last year, shows that because of the testing at the Airport, it reduced the influx of new variants. So we have to make sure that, that is being done meticulously so that we catch people who are infected at the Airport and isolate them appropriately," he said.
The Parasitologist explained that the efficiency of available vaccines may be ineffective in fighting the new variant because it has mutations that are different from the original strain of the virus.
"Vaccines were made with a certain blueprint which was the original strain of the virus, so now as you have other virus with accumulating number of mutations around the spike protein, what that means is that the protein may change sufficiently that it is able to invade antibodies that our bodies have made and this could be a challenge because that will mean that the vaccine effectiveness will reduce."
"Also, the fact that the numbers are increasing rapidly suggests that it has a growth advantage; in other words, it replicates better or faster than the existing virus that is why it is able to increase in cases in a short time," Prof Awandare added.
He said there is the need for Ghanaians to continue to observe the relevant COVID-19 safety protocols involving social distancing, the wearing of face masks and the washing of hands, amongst others.
According to Prof Gordon Awandare, it is good to take early precaution "but I also don’t think we should overly react."
He wants Senior High School students to be inoculated before they resume their academic work.
"We have to go back to following the protocols. It seems that in Ghana whenever the cases go down, we all drop our guard and we start living life as post-COVID. This has reminded us that COVID is not gone and it’s not going anywhere soon."
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has assured that Ghana has not recorded the Omicron variant of the COVID-19.
Addressing the press on Sunday, November 28, he explained that based on recent tests and sequencing at the Kotoka International Airport, there’s no evidence to suggest that the new variant has found its way into the country.
The Ghana Health Service intimated that during the upcoming Yuletide festivities, it would be required of all citizens to provide proof of their vaccination, before they’re allowed entry into public places and gatherings.
“Omicron; we have not identified one in Ghana. All people who have tested positive at the Airport are sequenced, their samples are sequenced. We also pick samples from our reference labs across the country, to do sequencing."
Currently, they have a bunch of about a hundred and sixty (160) which they’re working on now, but there’s been no indication of Omicron in Ghana. So all those messages flying around, it’s not true. There’s no case in Ghana”, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye revealed.
Latest Stories
-
Galamsey: Investigation into attack on Joy News’ Erastus Asare and colleagues already growing cold
26 mins -
Mahama promises construction of stadia in all 16 regions if elected
43 mins -
Dampare has transformed Police training school – Bawumia
46 mins -
America braced as two stark visions collide on election day
48 mins -
NAPO urges Ghanaians to support NPP’s vision for national development
57 mins -
About 95% of PWDs in Obuasi have source of livelihood – MCE
1 hour -
Immigration Service intercepts 54 gallons of fuel
1 hour -
Election 2024: Roman Fada selected as flagbearer for Ghana Freedom Party
1 hour -
Bawumia to launch Ghana’s credit scoring system on Nov. 7
1 hour -
Alan to combat galamsey with strategic youth-centred business model
2 hours -
Agona Swedru chiefs commit to ending child marriage within their jurisdiction
2 hours -
Sunyani Traditional Council endorses Bawumia – NAPO government
2 hours -
Adutwum defends double track in Free SHS, citing research and positive outcomes
2 hours -
‘Prevent and condemn illegal pressure on Judiciary’ – AG to GBA
2 hours -
Mahama alleges biased development allocation by NPP
2 hours