The University of Ghana (UG), Legon, has lifted the ban placed on social gatherings in the area due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

As such, all student bodies, including the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG), Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Junior Common Rooms (JCRs), and departmental and school associations, can now conduct week celebrations.

Parts of a notice by the management on Monday, July 14, read “The restriction on social gatherings on the University of Ghana campus due to the resurgence of COVID-19 has been lifted with immediate effect”.

Management had earlier restricted social events, excluding lectures, in response to the resurgence of COVID-19 on campus.

This directive came ahead of the National Annual Delegates Conference at the UG Sports Stadium from July 18 to 19, to be held by the New Patriotic Party.

The Health Services Directorate reactivated its COVID-19 Response Protocols, including screening and triage measures at health facilities.

Subsequently, all staff, students, and visitors were strongly advised to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to recommended preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection and community spread.

The preventive measures included wearing face masks properly, especially in enclosed or crowded spaces, and washing hands frequently with soap under running water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

The university community encouraged physical distancing of at least one metre where possible as well as avoid large gatherings unless absolutely necessary.

"Ensure good ventilation in offices, lecture halls, and meeting rooms," one of the preventive measures mandates.

Individuals who experience any flu-like symptoms were advised to stay at home and seek prompt medical attention.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. It usually spreads between people in close contact.

COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness and death. Although a person can still get COVID-19 after vaccination, they are more likely to have mild or no symptoms.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 symptoms typically appear 5 to 6 days after exposure and can last between 1 and 14 days, ranging from common symptoms like fever, chills, and sore throat to less common ones such as muscle aches, severe fatigue, nasal congestion, headache, sore eyes, dizziness, a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, numbness, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, altered taste or smell, and difficulty sleeping.

In 2020, COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency of international concern. In March of the period in question, Ghana recorded its first case.

In May 2023, the UN World Health Organization declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), significant portions of the population remain either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, posing ongoing vulnerability to the disease.

In July 2024, the GHS initiated a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign where it administered 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals aged 18 years and above, intensifying efforts to bolster vaccination rates.

Vaccination teams operate at hospitals, clinics, and health centers, ensuring accessibility to COVID-19 vaccines.

Additionally, teams conduct outreach activities at residences, markets, places of worship, workplaces, and other venues to facilitate widespread access.

According to GHS, COVID-19 vaccination is now a routine for adults, available at all vaccination sites nationwide.

As of 2023, the cumulative cases worldwide stood at 765,222,932, with nearly seven million deaths. As of 30 April, a total of more than 13.3 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.

According to data provided by the UN WHO, Europe recorded the highest number of confirmed cases, approaching 300 million, whereas Africa recorded the least. The highest number of deaths, exceeding 2.5 million, was recorded in Europe. Africa recorded the least number of death cases.