COVID-19: 6,000 Deaths, 300,000 Infections For Ghana By November-Washington Estimates

Washington-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is predicting doom for Ghana’s COVID-19 infections. Modelling done by the Institute estimate that there could be as much as 6,000 deaths and approximately 320,000 infections by November 2020.

In its metrics, the University of Washington based institute estimate that Ghana will record as much as 168 daily COVID-19 deaths and some 6,000 daily infections. These estimations are based on the current efforts of the government.

However, the group claims the numbers could decrease dramatically if up to 95% of the Ghanaians population wore masks in public places.

In their assessment, the numbers could drop to a mere additional death of 98 people and 72,000 infections by November 1, 2020.

This warning is coming at a time, the Ghanaian government and the Electoral Commission are frantically pushing through a voters’ registration exercise amidst protest from civil society groups and some political parties.

Already, what has been described as a politically motivated reopening of schools by President Akufo Addo has seen a sudden spike in infection among secondary schools students, as worried parents vow to withdraw their wards from the schools.

Ghana will need some 2000 more ventilators and some 2200 ICU beds by November, as infections are expected to spike, says the research institute.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reiterated the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is only going to get “worse and worse” if certain governments do not take decisive action to curb the spread of the disease.

WHO Boss, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said we are seeing “dangerous increases in cases” in countries where “proven measures to reduce risk are not implemented or followed”.

 “Let me blunt, too many countries are headed in the wrong direction,” Dr Tedros said at a briefing in Geneva on Monday.

“The virus remains public enemy number one, but the actions of many governments and people do not reflect this.”

Dr Tedros said “mixed messages from leaders” were undermining public trust in attempts to bring the pandemic under control.

 “If the basics aren’t followed, there is only one way this pandemic is going to go,” Dr Tedros notes.  “It’s going to get worse and worse and worse.”