Muongozo wa kupima COVID-19 kwa kingereza

Introduction

The COVID-19 outbreak has continued to affect various countries since it was first reported in

China in December 2019. As of 03^rd January 2021 a total of 83,322,449 confirmed cases and 1,831,412 deaths have been reported worldwide. Various countries have continued to take different measures including the prerequisite Negative COVID-19 test for travelers to various destinations abroad. Often we have witnessed the cancellation of international flights and recurrent lock downs still ongoing in various countries. Tanzania is one of the countries that has taken effective preventive and containment measures over COVID-19 that have brought the pandemic into control in the country.

This guide stems from an increase in new cases being reported daily worldwide and the emergence of new viral subtypes for COVID-19 (New Variant Strains) in some countries. In addition to this, the rise in COVID-19 testing costs is compounded by an increase in number of travelers from Tanzania destined to various countries abroad, including tourists entering and leaving the country; technological changes in testing where some countries have requested an additional lgM Antibody test to the current standard PCR Test and; an increased demand for additional sample collection centers. These factors among others have led to revision of the first version of COVID-19 Testing Guide for People Travelling Abroad of 20^th July, 2020. In this case, the Ministry has developed a Second Version of COVID-19 Testing Guide of 4^th January, 2021 for travelers and visitors to Tanzania.

1.1. Areas of the Guideline:

This guide sets out the application procedure, testing, how to get test results, cross-border verification and testing costs for Travelers (All people travelling from Tanzania including crews and drivers transporting cargo and passengers to various destinations and tourists).

1. Application and Testing Procedure:

1.2.1. Travelers should be informed to obtain necessary information from the respective Embassy’s Office or Consular of the destination Country to about the measures in place including need for a Negative COVID-19 test prerequisite for entry.

122. Traveler requiring COVID-19 testing services in Tanzania shall report to Regional Referral Hospitals or any approved nearby facilities including all centers conducting Surveillance of Influenza (Influenza Sentinel Sites) across the country with travel documents including Passport. Centers for Dar es salaam or nearby regions or departing through the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) or other ports in vicinity, the following designated facilities will be used for sample collection and transportation to the National Laboratory for testing. These are Muhimbili National Hospital, Amana, Mwananyamala and Temeke Regional Referral Hospitals; The Agakhan Hospital, IST Clinic, Sinza Hospital, Mbagala Hospital and Kigamboni Hospital. The aim is to reduce congestion of customers waiting for sample collection at the National Laboratory and remain with testing duty.
     • The Regional Medical Officer’s Office for each region should oversee this guide and sample collection exercise and ensure samples are timely transported to the National Laboratory in Dar es Salaam.
     • Traveler’s samples should be properly labelled by writing the name of the Region where the sample was collected and marking it with acronyms ITR (International Traveler), implying a priority for International travelers.
     • Traveler should visit one of the approved facilities preferably within five (5) days before the travel day for sample collection. The COVID-19 certificate will be valid for 14 days or will be subject to the terms of the relevant country where the traveler is destined.
     • Mechanisms of getting test results and certificates:

The test results from the National Laboratory will be submitted to the Regional Medical Officer of the particular region as per samples labelling identification. For travelers with Negative for COVDl-19 test results will be given certificates and their names will be sent electronically to the clients, copied to the Regional Medical Officer of respective region within Tanzania and Health Officer at the Points of Entry (Airports and ground crossings) to facilitate verification and reduce disruption of Travel. The test results will be provided within 48 hours before the travel day for samples collected from centers outside Dar es Salaam and within 24 hours for those collected within Dar es Salaam.

• Border Verification:

Travelers receiving COVID-19 certificates will be required to comply to verification procedures at our Points of Entry (Airport or Ground Crossings). This process can be done electronically.

• Testing costs:

The cost of COVID-19 test for all travelers will be 100 USD for a test to any traveler travelling abroad, including Tourists, Tanzanians and Diplomats

N.B: The payment should be made via the Government’s Account of National Laboratory Services and the clients be provided with government electronic receipt.

This guide will be updated in accordance with the evolving requirements.