London, Feb. 4, 2021 (AltAfrica)-The Ghana Health Service says it has detected a wide community spread of the mutated variants of COVID-19 which originated from the United Kingdom (UK).

With a higher rate of spread and an increased level of severity in sickness, the Ghana Health Service has warned Ghanaians to observe strictly all health safety protocols to minimize the risk of contracting the virus.

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, February 3, 2020, the Director-General of GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye indicated that in 2020 when the original variant was in the country only 21% of infected persons were getting sick.

Dr Aboagye, however, states that the percentage has now increased to 32% since the introduction of the UK variant into the country.

He said the service after recording the South African variant among travellers at the Kotoka International Airport, stepped up surveillance in local communities and identified the spread of the new variants.

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To battle the new wave of infections, the Ghana Health Service has intensified among other things its contact tracing efforts and has increased the daily testing of suspected cases to 3,500.

Ghana is currently experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 infections which has seen the countries numbers spiking daily.

The daily number of infections within weeks has moved from around 200 to 700.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases is now 67,782 with 61,843 recovery whilst 424 of the infected persons have died.

The current number of active cases currently stands at 5,515.

Coronavirus infected MPs turning up for work

Some members of parliament who have tested positive for covid-19 are still turning up for work and endangering the lives of others.

The House has consequently warned such MPs will have their names published if the development persists.

First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu who presided over the House on Wednesday further cautioned over 50 MPs who are yet to subject themselves to the testing exercise to do so before the close of day in order not to face sanctions.

The Majority whip Muntaka Mubarak blamed the development on the failure of the health directorate to reveal the identity of the Covid-19 positive MPs to the leadership of both sides.

According to him, the move could enable leaders of both sides to ensure such members stay away from the precinct of parliament.

Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also warned names of such recalcitrant MPs will be made public by next week if they fail to adhere to the directives of the speaker.