The Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Wednesday called for strict enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols at all levels to avert a major third wave in the country.
A review of the Ghana Health Service and partners on the current COVID-19 situation and response identifies the total disregard of COVID-19 safety protocols, as a challenge that could lead to the increasing number of new infections over a short period which could overwhelm the health system and further worsen the outbreak.
"The threat of a third major wave in Ghana is very real," the GHS noted, and said "even though it had some strides in strengthening its current systems to fight COVID-19, it could be overwhelmed if the third wave was not averted, especially driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant".
The GHS through a communique available to the Ghana News Agency at Tema said "it is imperative that the public revisit the four key measures-appropriate face mask use-wearing the face mask at all times when in public; hand hygiene-effective hand washing or the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; maintaining social distancing; and cough etiquette, to prevent COVID-19 third wave in Ghana."
The communique was issued by the Ghana Health Service, subsequent to a high level strategic meeting of Senior Managers and the increasing cases of COVID-19.
The GHS said the public health measures needed to prevent transmission remained the same and what the country needed was the strict adherence to the protocols by all persons living in Ghana, whether vaccinated or not.