Tanzania government warns of third wave of COVID-19

THE government has said there were indicators of the third wave of COVID-19 disease in the country, a few days after Tanzania expressed its interest in joining the COVAX global vaccine-sharing facility, the government warned of a third wave of COVID-19.

  It directed that all precautions to be taken, including, use of sanitisers and hand washing with soap and running water. wearing face masks. Authorities say that cases are on the rise in all bordering countries, including Uganda, and indications that the disease may again hit the country.

  Speaking with journalists Saturday, the director of prevention from Tanzania’s Heath Ministry, Leonard Subi, insisted residents take precautions to protect themselves from infection.

  The ministry has begun to see an indication that a third wave of COVID-19 is occurring, Subi said, citing monitoring reports carried out by the ministry as well as interaction between Tanzanians and other nations.

  In April 2020, Tanzania stopped publishing COVID-19 data as then-president John Magufuli declared God had eliminated the infection.

  Soon after Magufuli’s death in March 2021, new president Samia Hassan started a change in handling COVID infections, including admitting its presence. Now the country is waiting for vaccines.

  Opposition politicians such as Yerico Nyerere from the Party of Democracy and Development, or CHADEMA, say the government should emphasise controlling movements particularly in the area bordering Uganda, where the virus has hit strongly.

  Nyerere said those areas that have interactions with countries such as Uganda, where there is a high wave of the virus, should enforce serious controls, if possible, even closing the border. He said Tanzania did not want to enter into a lockdown stage, as Uganda has.

  Some Tanzanians see the need for the government to enforce nationwide prevention campaigns that will also reach villagers.