The fifth wave of the coronavirus is presently affecting Ghana, according to Dr. Michael Owusu, a virologist at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR).
He said that the Omicron variant's BA.4 category is responsible for the recent wave, and he added that poor adherence to safety precautions and vaccination resistance will probably make the anticipated wave difficult to predict.
In contrast to earlier forms of the virus, which only impacted around 40% of the population, the new variety is predicted to affect roughly 90% of the population.
"Even though I don't think the new variation will be very lethal, I think it'll be the most contagious one yet. As the pattern shifts. I am eagerly anticipating the President's review of the E.I. and any potential revisions, particularly to the control measures.
On Tuesday, June 28, he said, "The figures we see on the screen - 203 [active cases] - as of this morning, I feel it's about two or three times that amount because I have seen that with this current wave, we are in the fifth wave now."
The best approach to assure adequate protection against the virus, according to Dr. Owusu, is to receive the doses of the vaccination plus booster shots.
He advised people to think about being immunised before things get out of hand.
"I don't see why people think the west tampered with the vaccination. Look at me; I've taken all of my medicines and am now in excellent condition. Even evidence from the East confirms the vaccine's efficacy, therefore I find it incomprehensible that people have this mindset. You should be able to make an informed decision about the circumstance even if President Akufo-Addo is not ordering you to wear a mask.
"Unfortunately, society targets those who prefer to cover themselves in public. People criticise individuals who are only making an effort to take care of themselves and others, the KNUST instructor noted.
Other viruses and infections, like cholera and meningitis, have also witnessed a decline as a result of the safety precautions that Covid-19 has educated the population to follow, according to Dr. Michael Owusu.
"This new variation targets more individuals than before, mainly newborns and the elderly, thus it is more crucial than ever for us to begin taking safety precautions. To safeguard the most vulnerable members of the population, we must implement safety precautions and administer the vaccination.
Only 20.6% of Ghanaians are completely immunised, and more than 10 million individuals have not yet received any type of immunisation, according to Our World in Data.
According to experts, the next wave will last the rest of June and the full month of July.