Ghana begins new COVID policy for China travel
Beginning on Friday, travelers arriving in Ghana from China will require screening for COVID-19 due to concern over the current rise of coronavirus cases in China.
They will need to produce a 48-hour negative PCR test and undergo a mandatory antigen test on arrival. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging caution for people traveling from Ghana to China as well. “As much as possible, only essential travel should be undertaken until further notice,” the ministry said in its statement.
Several countries have reinstituted China travel bans or precautions because of COVID outbreak numbers, including Japan and the United States. Morocco instituted a ban on Tuesday.
“With circulation in China so high and comprehensive data not forthcoming – as I said last week it is understandable that some countries are taking steps they believe will protect their own citizens,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, on Wednesday.
Tedros said WHO continues to press Beijing for COVID data, particularly as the country changed its lockdown policy in recent weeks. Officials have held high-level meetings with Chinese authorities over the past week to discuss the rise in cases and hospitalizations.
“We believe that the current numbers being published from China underrepresents the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, head of the WHO Health Emergencies Program.
Chinese officials have balked at allegations, made by the U.S. and others, that it is not being transparent about the COVID crisis.
“Health experts from many countries have said that entry restrictions targeting China are unnecessary,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. That said, China also will require arrivals to show a negative COVID test beginning Sunday.
Image: GACL file
Laureen Fagan
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
Laureen is a freelance journalist creating high-quality, informed content on international affairs, politics and technology. She has worked both in and out of newsrooms since 2000. She is a former paramedic with significant experience in community resilience and nonprofit community development initiatives, and maintains "a passion for action" on sustainability and climate change. She also is trained in conflict resolution and diversity, and has special interests in science and medical reporting, and culture and religion issues. Laureen received her MSJ from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in the United States, and completed additional graduate study in theology at University of Notre Dame. Follow Laureen on Mastodon at @laureen@m.ai6yr.org
