COVID-19 CASES HIT 254 AS IT SPREAD DEEP INTO TANZANIA

By Osoro Nyawangah, Dar es Salaam TANZANIA

Tanzania has recorded 84 new Covid-19 cases between 18th to 20th April this year raising the tally to 254 from 147, the Minister for health has said.

Travellers at the Namanga border post in northern Tanzania undergo temperature checks as part of measures to curb the coronavirus disease

Tanzania Minister of Health  Community Development, Gender, Seniors and Children, Ummy Mwalimu in a briefing on Monday said the new cases were reported in the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam (33), tourist city of Arusha (4), Mbeya (3), Tanga (3), Manyara (2) and Tabora (1).

Other regions are Ruvuma (2), the capital city of Dodoma (3), Morogoro (2), Lindi (1), Mara (1), Lake Victoria City of Mwanza (3), northern region of Kilimanjaro (3) Coast region (3), Mtwara region (1), and Kagera region in northwest (1) and Rukwa (2). 

She said that on 18th April, 23 new cases were confirmed in the Islands of Zanzibar.

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

Mwalimu also said that the number of deaths had risen to 10 after three patients succumbed to CIVID-19.

“We regret to announce that we have lost three patients to Covid-19 raising number of deaths to ten,” Mwalimu told journalists.

She added that all patients reported in Tanzania mainland are in stable condition with exception of four who are in critical due to underlying health conditions.

Though the report does not reveal the number of recovered patients, but the WHO records show that 11 patients have recoved. 

“I would like to remind citizens to stay focused and follow laid-down precautions to prevent further infections, including washing hands with water and soap, observing physical distancing and avoiding crowded places,” she reiterated.

In another development, Tanzania's Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Tulia Ackson, has today reported that one Member of Parliament has contracted the virus (COVID-19) and that he is undergoing treatment.

"I regret to inform you that one member of the parliament is suffering from COVID-19, is undergoing treatment and is in stable condition." Ackson told the assembly without naming the member. 

Following this announcement, an opposition leader and member of parliament, Zitto Kabwe, has advised of suspension of the on-going 'budget parliament' and quarantine of all members of parliament and their immediate contacts. 

"We should not have double standard in enforcing the pandemic regulations, I call for suspension of the current parliament and quarantine of all members as done to other citizens." Kabwe said. - Africa.