Tanzania's Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu. PHOTO | MWANANCHI | NMG
Tanzania has reported five new cases of coronavirus on Monday, raising the total number of confirmed infections to 19.
Three
of infected people are from Tanzania mainland, while the two others are
from the semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago, Health minister Ummy
Mwalimu said.
“Efforts to trace those who were in contact with the patients are ongoing,” the minister said.
The
government has ramped up its call for preventive measures such as
general hygienic practices including the use of face masks, handwashing
and use of sanitisers in public places and increased enforcement of
social distancing.
It has, however, adopted a
wait-and-see approach to the coronavirus pandemic, as neighbouring
countries impose partial or near-total lockdowns and introduce stimulus
measures to cushion their economies.
Church services
and funerals are still permitted and public transport is running in what
appears to be a government move to minimise chances of the Covid-19
pandemic grinding the country to a halt.
Zanzibar, where two cases of the virus have been confirmed, has
banned all travel to and from the archipelago starting Saturday, in
addition to earlier measures which included closures of all tourist
hotels.
- Additional reporting by Bob Karashani
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