The presidential advisor on health, Anthony Nsiah Asare, is cautioning Ghanaians to avoid needless travel to China, particularly as COVID-19 cases in the Far Eastern country soar.
Speaking to Asaase News, Dr Asare said Ghana is likely to place restrictions on people travelling from China, starting from midnight on 3 January 2023.
“We are aware that there is an increase in cases in China, so we are putting measures in place,” the former boss of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said.
Nsiah Asare said the new measures will help to deal with the COVID-19 problem, as other countries are also reporting a rise in cases.
“If it is the same omicron that is circulating in China, then we will not be in any danger. I’m sure from midnight of 3 January there will be extra restrictions, particularly for people coming from China – not just Chinese people, but anybody who originated from China – into the country.
“We are going to make sure that we don’t import any unnecessary viruses into [Ghana]. My advice is that although China is opening up for people to visit, if you don’t have anything essential thing to do in China, I will plead that you don’t go now,” he said.
Touching on why Ghana still has so few active cases, even after the festive season, he said: “It’s … unexpected because, if you remember, normally we have a lot of cases in late December and early January to February. But, by the grace of God, due to the measures we have put in place, we haven’t seen that, and I hope we don’t see it.”
