TANZANIA CONFIRMS THE FIRST CORONAVIRUS CASE

Arusha, TANZANIA

Tanzania government has confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country through the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Seniors and Children, Monday March 16.

The Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Seniors and Children, Ummy Mwalimu

The East African country confirmed its first case of coronavirus at mount Meru Hospital in Arusha City, becoming one of at least 27 countries on the African continent where the outbreak has spread.

The Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Seniors and Children, Ummy Mwalimu, said in a statement that the victim is a woman aged 46 who arrived in the country on 15th of March 2020 and is at northern region hospital.

The Minister said that the patient, arrived in Tanzania on March 15 from Belgium aboard Rwandair plane and landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), the thermo scanner did not detect any high temperature.

“She left the country on March 3 to Belgium, while there she visited Sweden and Germany before she went back to Belgium and returned to Tanzania on March 15”. The Minister said.

According to her traveling history, she went into self-isolation but samples tested positive of the Coronavirus, she is now at Mount Meru Hospital where she is undergoing treatment.

The Minister confirmed that the patient’s situation has been contained and that preventive measures have been put in place in the country. 

She urged Tanzanians to take precautions to prevent infection, and to report at any medical centre if they develop any symptoms of the disease.

Coronavirus cases have been reported in Rwanda and Kenya.