Is Tanzania "Coronavirus-free" country?

By Our Correspondent, DODOMA Tanzania

President of Tanzania, John Magufuli, on Monday July 20, declared Tanzania a “coronavirus-free” country calling for his ministers to echo the message to attract tourists.

President John Magufuli (far left) swearing in new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Anthony Sanga (R) at Dodoma State House

"We decided to pray to God to save us from the coronavirus. God has answered our prayers." He said at the Dodoma State House during the swearing in of country officials he appointed a few days ago.

He called on the newly appointed officials to keep marketing Tanzania as a Covid-19 free destination while making the world aware of the fact that the country is safe.

"Tanzania is safe and this is evident by the many airlines that have started pouring in bringing tourists," Magufuli asserted adding that for Tanzania to keep attracting more tourists, every leader at his or her capacity should be an ambassador for the rest of the world to understand that the country is safe.

"The good thing is that, people have started to understand the reality that Tanzania is a safe place," he said.

He noted that the country’s enemies will speak negatively, but the reality remains that Tanzania is safe. “… That is why none of us here is putting on a mask. Does it mean we are not afraid of death? No, it is because coronavirus has been eliminated.”

In a contradicting move, the Ministry of Health, Social Development, Gender, Elderly and children has issued new guidelines for obtaining Covid-19clearance certificates for both nationals and foreigners with plans to travel in the countries where such certificates are compulsory.

According to the Minister of Health, Ummy Mwalimu, the fee for screening is Tsh. 40,000/- ($17.26) for Tanzania nationals, Tsh. 60,000/- ($25.88) for foreigners who are residents and $100 for visitors in the country.

She said that the procedure for obtaining the certificate is clear, the tests can only be obtained only at the regional hospitals and the results made available at the Chief regional medical office within 72 hours for those who tested negative.

Tanzania and North Korea are the only two countries that do not report Covid-19 cases. The country stopped reporting cases of COVID-19 on April 29 with 509 infections at the time.

However, in countries surrounding Tanzania, the number of COVID-19 cases has been rising. South Africa is recording 12,000 news cases per day on average, and in countries like Rwanda and Uganda, the virus is slowly spreading. Kenya has 500 new cases per day on average.   

Furthermore Kenya and South Africa are reporting a shortage of hospital beds to take care of people who develop life-threatening symptoms. 

Africa continent has a 740,016 confirmed cases, 15,464 deaths and 392,369 recovered patients as of today.