Tanzania closes more Covid-19 centres as pandemic surge in neighbouring countries

Minister of Health, Community
Development, Gender, seniors and
Children, Ummy Mwalimu,

By Our Correspondent, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

Tanzanian government said yesterday that a significant fall in the number of coronavirus infections has led to closure of more treatment centres that had been designated to handle Covid-19 patients across the country.

The government has not released any data on COVID-19 in the country since April 29, so there are no current data on the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Tanzania while the numbers increase in the neighbouring countries.

The Health ministry says the country is now remained with 11 treatment centres in operation from the initial 84 as the minister visited Lulanzi health centre in the Coast Region, the latest Covid-19 centre to be closed.

Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, seniors and Children, Ummy Mwalimu, said during the visit that 11 of the remaining centres include private hospitals.

“We are thankful that new infections and Covid-19 cases have significantly dropped in our country. However, people shouldn’t forget taking precautionary measures to prevent possible spread of the virus,” cautioned the minister.

The latest centre to be closed, she said, hadn’t recorded any new coronavirus cases since May 26, 2020.

Lulanzi was one among the biggest health centres in Tanzania designated to treat Covid-19 patients.

Others were Amana, Mloganzila and Temeke Regional Referral Hospital in the commercial city of dar es Salaam.

The government has repeatedly said that the Covide-19 cases have drastically gone down in Tanzania although there has been no official figures on the pandemic that have been released since the start of May.

The government has also eased Covid-19 restriction and directed reopening of schools and other learning institutions. It has also allowed resumption of sporting activities.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told parliament in June that there were 66 active coronavirus cases, but provided no further details.

According to government records of April 29 this year, 509 people in Tanzania have so far contracted the virus, 183 recovered and 21 have died.

Several opposition leaders and activists in recent weeks have accused the government of failing to inform the public on the extent of the disease's outbreak and covering up the true number of fatalities.