Ashanti region records increase in Covid-19 deaths despite falling infections

Despite recording a drop in infections, the Ashanti region has seen its Covid-19-related deaths increase in the past three weeks, with 47 new deaths.

The number of deaths continues to increase, from 297 on July 25 to 344 cumulative deaths on August 16, 2021.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Covid-19 in Kumasi, regional health director Dr Emmanuel Kojo Tinkorang described the situation as worrying.

According to him, the public should also be wary of the dangers of Covid-19, especially in the event of non-compliance with security protocols.

The Ashanti region saw its daily Covid-19 infections drop from 783 on July 25 to 392 on August 15, 2021.

But despite the decline, the region has seen an upsurge in deaths. Among the new deaths is a health worker who failed to get vaccinated.

Ashanti’s regional health director Dr Emmanuel Kojo Tinkorang said that while none of those killed were vaccinated, the death toll speaks to the reality of Covid-19.

“The Covid kills and a lot of people because they don’t see the dead in their homes, they think the Covid can’t kill.

“But the situation in our hospitals is quite different from what the public sees. When you come to our hospitals we receive cases of Covid all the time and unfortunately we lose some and the ones we have lost are the ones that have not been vaccinated.

“As in the second wave, our death was 297. Now we have gone to 344. That means Covid is killing.”

The upsurge comes at a time when health officials in the region have received 50,400 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines.

Four districts designated as Covid-19 hotspots are participating in the exercise which saw 11,000 people vaccinated as of August 15, 2021.

Dr Tinkorang encourages residents of affected districts to take advantage of the ongoing vaccination exercise in 36 designated centers, as health authorities step up contact tracing and tracing.

“If you are not vaccinated, do not follow protocols and contract Covid-19, it can kill you,” warned Dr Tinkorang.

Meanwhile, a public awareness campaign is underway to keep people who received AstraZaneca’s first vaccine away from the Johnson and Johnson vaccines.

But some people continue to attend the centers in the hope of being vaccinated. Dr Tinkorang therefore urges these people to renounce such a practice.