At least five more persons have died of COVID-19 taking Ghana’s death toll to 777, reports the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The country’s active cases now stand at 1,422 after 58 new coronavirus cases were confirmed at the laboratories.
As at 18 April 2021, the GHS reports that the country’s total confirmed cases increased to 91,928 out of which 89,729 have recovered.
So far, 28 cases have been classified as severe while eight remain critical, according to GHS. Cases detected at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) are 1,434 with 1,369 recoveries so far.
Breakdown of regional cases:
Greater Accra Region – 50,666
Ashanti Region – 15,466
Western Region – 5,750
Eastern Region – 4,164
Central Region – 3,324
Volta Region – 2,419
Northern Region – 1,651
Bono East Region – 1,424
Bono Region – 1,371
Upper East Region – 1,311
Western North Region – 861
Ahafo Region – 707
Upper West Region – 493
Oti Region – 406
North East Region – 223
Savannah Region – 122
GHS assures of second jab soon
Meanwhile, the government says it is working assiduously to procure the next batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Ghanaians whose second jab is due.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Sunday 18 April 2021, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye explained that the delay in the procurement of additional COVID-19 vaccines is occasioned by the global scramble for vaccines and the unavailability of same.
That notwithstanding, he said, government is working with its overseas partners to procure additional vaccines by May this year.
“As a service, we are more concerned about having more people with the first dose. There are also bilateral arrangements that will bring in other COVAX vaccines including Johnson and Johnson which we are expecting in the third quarter of the year.
“So, we are assuring people, if you do not get it on the eighth week, it does not mean there’s something wrong. We still have a four-week window period and beyond to have it,” he added.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye also announced a revision in the GHS’ initial vaccination policy for those who have taken the first dose from eight weeks to 12 weeks period. This he said is as a result of the efficacy of the first dose explaining that the first dose has about 76% protection for about 90 days which coincides with the revised 12 weeks.
Meanwhile, more than 850,000 Ghanaians have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19 since the first phase of the exercise was rolled out across the country with the Greater Accra Region having the highest number of persons.
Fred Dzakpata
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