A virologist at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Dr Michael Owusu has attributed the surge in the country’s daily COVID-19 cases to the change of weather.
Dr Owusu indicated that Africa has within the last eight (8) days recorded some 100,000 cases, a figure which was initially recorded in the first 98 days after the pandemic entered the shores of the continent.
According to him, the recent spike can be attributed to the change in seasons from summer to winter (dry season to rainy season).
Many Ghanaians, including health experts have expressed worry over the increasing cases of the country’s daily infections which now averages between 200 to over 300 according to statistics by the Ghana Health Service.
Explaining what may have accounted for the surge, Dr Owusu in an interview with ABC News noted that COVID-19 usually thrives in places with cold weather conditions as opposed to those with hot conditions which has largely contributed to our 12,929.
“One of the things could be precautionary measures that people will not be adhering to very well. The second thing is, it’s not peculiar to Ghana, in the whole of Africa since 11th of June, WHO noted that our first 100,000 cases since the virus entered Africa occurred within just 98 days but then within just about 18 days, Africa has added an additional 100,000 cases which will mean that the whole Africa is entering into an acceleration phase and I think that the season could be a contributing factor.
“Because when the virus came, a lot of us were in the hot season and in the hot season the virus cannot survive for long, it survives for a few hours and just disappears but when there is cold, it can remain in the environment for a long time, sometimes more than 14 days so the chances that somebody will get it is higher than it was before which could be a reflection of the rapidity with which the cases are increasing. This is why those in the Western Wolrd with the cold temperature are having increase in cases.”
Listing some measures which could reduce the increasing spread of the disease, the Virologist advised Government to consider imposing some restrictions on areas which have been identified as hotspots for the spread of the virus.
Without that, Dr Owusu fears the virus may overwhelm the health facilities, leading to more deaths outside COVID-19.
“In situations like this, whenever you have pressure building at the health facilities,it is always good to relook at the various options at the table. One option is called the mitigating option, which is what we are doing and which is why we have to put on masks. The next thing is that even whilst you’re putting on masks, you are still having a sharp increase so how will the picture look like in the coming weeks? This means that in the coming weeks if nothing drastic is done, it’s possible that the system will be overwhelmed and you may have people needing support but may not get support
“I was saying that on the back of what the president said. I’m not sure the time but he mentioned that whenever there are surges of cases, he will not hesitate to impose curfews or further order for restrictions at particular hotpots so the pressure is mounting from particular places that people may not be adhering to certain measures so when people are trouping in from these places and the people there are not willing to adhere then you’ll have to help them by restricting their movement and causing them to stay home so that they can ease pressure on the health facility. If we don’t do that, then it is going to mount pressure and prevent other who are coming in with their normal conditions from being cared for. People may die from other unrelated covid situation which will not help us,” he said.
