Central Region COVID-19 cases increase to 121 - 31 die from virus
Active COVID-19 cases in the Central Region have shot up from 31 at the end of June to 121 as of Monday, July 21, 2021, with 31 deaths.
The Central Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Akosua Sarpong, said the region was experiencing an exponential increase in COVID-19 cases of the new delta variant, which was a cause for worry.
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Dr Sarpong said the new uptick in COVID-19 cases had also brought about an increase in hospitalisations and deaths and called on residents in the region not to lose guard in the precautionary measures against the virus.
At a press briefing last Tuesday, she said it was important residents made strict adjustments to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols to curb the spread of the virus.
"The increase in the number of active cases to 121 is a worrying situation. The Delta variant is more transmissible than any other identified variant so far," she stated, adding that all must support efforts at stopping its spread.
Caution
Dr Sarpong expressed concern about the blatant disregard for the protocols, saying many people moved around in public places without observing the COVID-19 safety measures.
She said it was important for all persons to step up their adherence to the safety protocols to curb the spread of the virus and to reduce the impact of the new variant.
"I will urge individuals and institutions across the country to step up their COVID-19 preventive measures to break the claws of the Delta variant," she stated.
She added that the regional health directorate was putting measures in place to ensure that the region contained its current situation and prevented a further upsurge in cases.
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Dr Sarpong also said they had personnel in various educational institutions who were ready to contain any suspected case.
Vaccines
She stated that the region would soon receive some doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and encouraged the public not to fret over safety issues concerning vaccines, noting that authorities had ensured that all the vaccines acquired were safe for use locally.
Meanwhile, she said the region had started its point mass distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets to help protect at least 80 per cent of the population from malaria.
The Deputy Central Regional Director of Health, Dr Kwabena Sarpong, said the exercise was also aimed at promoting ownership and usage of the long-lasting insecticide as another key intervention in curbing malaria in the region.
He said the exercise would take place between July 27, 2021 to August 2, 2021 and was targeted at supplying 726,631 households in the region with of 1,685,000 nets.
Dr Sarpong said the exercise would be monitored by the sub-district health staff, district technical officers, regional technical officers and national technical officers in all the 22 districts to ensure that all registered households were served.