Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed that 136 students in a high school have tested positive for COVID-19 Delta variant.
Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2, is a version of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It was first detected in India late last year and contains mutations in the gene that codes for the spike protein which the virus uses to enter cells in the body.
During the latest national COVID-19 update, 136 out of 550 samples taken among students in Achimota School came out positive, said Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of GHS.
Aboagye said that three students from the school went to the hospital last month with symptoms of influenza, but ended up testing positive for COVID-19.
He added;
Subsequently, other symptomatic students and contacts were identified, listed and tested for COVID-19.
However, majority of the students, who tested positive, are day students. We are doing the strategic testing of day students so that the infection does not spill into the community.
Ghana first confirmed six cases of COVID-19 Delta variants among passengers arriving in the country on June 22.
As of Sunday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has increased to 96,317.
Via Xinhua/NAN.
