CORONAVIRUS RAVAGES TANZANIA

The United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has warned its citizens against travelling to Tanzania to reduce the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

Tanzania is yet to update its COVID-19 statistics since April. By then it had record 509 cases and 21 deaths.

In a statement on Wednesday, December 2, CDC claimed the East African country has level four coronavirus while describing the number of infections as “very high”.

“Travellers should avoid all traveling to Tanzania. Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19,” CDC said on its website.

It advised citizens to avoid visiting Tanzania at all but if they must, then they should ensure they follow strict COVID-19 protocols.

“Before you travel, get tested with a viral test one to three days before your trip. Do not travel if you are waiting for test results, test positive, or are sick. Follow all entry requirements for your destination and provide any required or requested health information,” it stated.

The department noted US citizens who would contract COVID-19 in Tanzania would be required to isolate upon return and may be barred from entering the country which has so far recorded over 63 million cases and over 1.4 million deaths.

“If you test positive on arrival, you might be required to isolate. You might be prevented from returning to the United States as scheduled,” it added.

Tanzanian President John Mafuguli has on several occasions insisted his country has managed to contain the pandemic through prayers.

In August, he argued prayers had more powers than social distancing and wearing of masks embraced by many countries across the world.

“Today we are here, crowded as usual. There is no one with coronavirus. Let us celebrate our God for his gift of healing. Coronavirus can not survive where there is God and prayer. You have involved God in everything.

Both Muslims and Christians have been praying,” he said at a campaign rally.
During the same month, he urged Tanzanians, albeit jokingly, to embrace tightly in bedrooms maintaining there was no COVID-19 in the country.

Sourced from Tuko