Ghana has joined some countries who have made Covid-19 vaccination compulsory for travel as the Omicron variant has been detected at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said that effective 12th December, 2021, all travelers in and out of Ghana must be fully vaccinated. This comes as a result of the high rise of the Omicron variant Covid-19 positive cases detected at the Kotoka International Airport. In total, 34 cases with the Omicron variant have been detected with 75% of the passengers unvaccinated.
According to GHS, there was “a decline in the number of Covid-19 cases in Ghana over the past two months until the
global picture of COVID-19 changed since early November 2021.” With this change as a result of the fourth wave experienced globally by other countries who are be trouping into Ghana for the festivities, the number of cases are growing at the Kotoka International Airport.
From November 2021, the airport has been recording an average of 20 positive cases a day which shows an increase of over 40% from November 2020 and most of the positives are seen in unvaccinated passengers. “We have since been recording an average of 20 positive cases a day at KIA. For these positive cases, there is a significant difference in the percentage of COVID-19 infection based on vaccination status recorded at KIA. Available data from KIA, show that a COVID-19 positive person is three times more likely to be unvaccinated” – GHS said.
The GHS has put certain directives in place to stop the spread of the virus in Ghana as a lot of people may pass through KIA this festive season. “The current increase in cases together with the detection of the Omicron variant among international arrivals and the expected increase during the festive season calls for urgent actions to prevent a major surge in COVID-19 cases in Ghana” the communique said.
To avert this, the following directives are to be implemented effective midnight 12th December 2021:
Travelers to Ghana
• All persons 18 years and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine
• All unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents of Ghana who are currently outside the country and intend to return within 14 days from the midnight of 12th December 2021 are exempted.
However, they would be vaccinated on arrival at the airport.
Traveling Out of Ghana
All Ghanaians travelling out of the country are to be fully vaccinated effective midnight 12th December 2021.
Definition of Fully Vaccinated
A person is said to be fully vaccinated when he/she has taken the full dose of vaccines approved and registered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana.
• You need two doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna or Sputnik V to be declared as Fully Vaccinated
• One dose is required for Johnson and Johnson to be declared fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 Vaccines Approved and Registered by FDA, Ghana
1. AstraZeneca
2. Sputnik V
3. Johnson and Johnson
4. Pfizer
5. Moderna
Other Arrival Requirements remain unchanged
• The 72-hour Negative PCR test requirement prior to travel
• Completion of the Health Declaration Form
• All persons who arrive in Ghana will undergo an Antigen test
Post comments (0)