Coronavirus Updates Tanzania | Coronavirus-COVID-19 Updates Tanzania

Coronavirus Updates Tanzania-The government yesterday said it is finalizing a COVID-19 certification program allowing foreign travelers are to show that they are coronavirus-free. This program has come at a time when countries are opening their skies and some of them are requesting travelers’ Covid-19 clearance.

Dubai this week released guidelines to people traveling to that city from ten countries-including Tanzania-requiring them to submit coronavirus-free clearance certificates. Other countries on the list are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, as well as some US cities and states: These are Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, while the states are as California, Florida and Texas.

Speaking to yesterday’s Resident, Tanzania’s Chief Medical Officer, Abel Makubi, said the government is already working on proper post-COVID-19 travel guidelines.

Speaking on phone, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, “I will make a public statement to unveil the procedures that Tanzanian travelers need to follow in order to receive clearance certificates.”

Noting that these certificates are regularly given to cross-border truck crews after screening, Prof. Makubi said “After they pass the boundary, they create copies of certificates verifying their health status before being permitted to enter another country,” he clarified.

Tanzania has lifted flight restrictions and quarantine for travellers from abroad in an effort to revive tourism. We’ll being you more on this from our regional correspondent.

Tanzania’s move to reopen the country to tourism has been welcomed by many in the industry.  However, some tour operators worry that the government’s lack of candour on the extent of COVID-19 infections will keep foreign tourists away.

International flights and parks were closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, bringing foreign tourism to a halt.

Tanzania’s Mikumi National Park which attracted around 50,000 tourists last year, about 40 per cent of them foreigners is seeing visitors slowly return after the government in May allowed flights and tourism to resume. However, most of those visitors are locals.

“We come to Mikumi to … refresh from the quarantine,” said Yaasir El-Haaq, a Tanzanian tourist. “Just to have a bit of fresh air so we come here for a weekend.”

President John Magufuli in May declared Tanzania had defeated the virus — a claim that health experts and the country’s neighbours dismiss.

Dozens of Tanzanian truckers have since tested positive for COVID-19 at Kenya’s border, while Tanzania has refused to release coronavirus infection figures since April.

Nonetheless, Tanzanian authorities say this is the right time to open up for tourists.

Minister of Natural Resources & Tourism Hamis Kigwangalla says his ministry is observing all the preventive measures.

In Tanzania, “the number of cases, hospitalization, and death have completely (been) going down over the past few weeks,” he said. “And … we have put in place all the necessary measures for prevention and control of the spread of COVID-19 in the country.”

But not everyone in Tanzania’s tourism industry is convinced. Some say the government’s lack of honesty with coronavirus infection numbers could keep visitors away.

The tourism industry accounts for about 17 per cent of Tanzania’s gross domestic product. While opening to tourists could support the economy, how Tanzania handles the pandemic could have a much longer-term effect.

Tanzania lifts its international travel ban while domestic social distance regulations are still in effect.

1. Passengers are subject to medical screening upon arrival.
2. Airline crew are subject to medical screening upon arrival and will be isolated if they are suspected of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
3. Airline crew arriving in Zanzibar (ZNZ) will be quarantined at the airline’s designated hotels.
4. A completed “Health Form” must be presented to the Ministry of Health personnel upon arrival.

Tanzania has lifted its international travel restrictions and is now open for commercial flights.

Only travellers showing symptoms will be required to go into quarantine unless they have proof of a negative test.

A negative test result is required to enter Tanzania only for those showing symptoms.

Public transportation in Tanzania is operating.

Most restaurants, cafes and bars are closed, however, some restaurants are open for takeout.

Non-essential businesses and attractions in Tanzania remain closed.

Wearing face masks in Tanzania is recommended.

In an attempt to revive tourism Tanzania has relaxed flight restrictions and quarantine for international travelers.

Many people in the industry have welcomed Tanzania’s push to re-open the country to tourism. Nonetheless, some Tanzania tour operators are worried that the lack of honesty from the government over the severity of COVID-19 infections would hold foreign visitors away.

In March this year, international flights and parks were suspended in March bringing global tourism to a halt. Tanzania’s Mikumi National Park, which last year attracted around 50,000 tourists, around 40% of them foreigners is witnessing visitors returning slowly after the government allowed flights and tourism to resume in May.

The bulk of those tourists, however, are local. “We come to Mikumi to refresh ourselves from the quarantine,” said Yaasir El-Haaq, a tourist from Tanzania.

“It’s just to get some fresh air and we’ll come here for a weekend.”

In May, President John Magufuli announced that Tanzania had overcome the virus an argument rejected by health experts and neighbours.

Dozens of Tanzanian truckers have since tested positive for COVID-19 at the Kenyan border, though since April Tanzania has declined to disclose statistics for coronavirus infections.

Nevertheless, the Tanzanian authorities say that this is the best time for visitors to open up. Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Hamis Kigwangalla says his ministry is controlling all the preventive measures.

In Tanzania, “the number of deaths, hospitalization, and death in the last few weeks has gone down absolutely,” he said.

“And we’ve put all the required steps in place to avoid and monitor the spread of COVID-19 across the world.”

Not everybody in the tourism industry in Tanzania is persuaded, however.

Some say lack of honesty from the government with numbers of coronavirus infections could keep visitors away.

Tourism industry accounts for around 17% of gross domestic product in Tanzania.

Although opening up to visitors could improve the economy, it could have a much longer-term impact on how Tanzania tackles the pandemic.

On Sunday, June 7, officials in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar eased measures to restrict international travel to the island after a two-month suspension enforced as a precaution to limit the spread of the pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Throughout their stay, arrivals must have evidence of legitimate international health insurance, wear face masks at all times and follow social distancing steps. Arrivals at the point of entry are subject to temperature tests.

Also those displaying COVID-19 signs will be put in isolation unless they have evidence of adverse testing.

There are also social distancing policies in place, including a ban on public meetings, school suspensions and the suspension of sporting events.

While many restaurants offer takeaway services, most of the bars, restaurants, and hotels have closed voluntarily.

Before travel was eased, Tanzanian authorities lifted restrictions on international travelers in mid-May.

All scheduled and unscheduled flights are free to arrive and depart, and the compulsory 14 day quarantine period has been abolished for those arriving in the country.

Guidelines on Coronavirus update tanzania

Travelers are recommended to follow the following steps to reduce the possibility of transmission:

• Wash hands sometimes by applying a hand scrub based on alcohol or washing with soap and water.
• Cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue while coughing and sneezing; if used, immediately throw away the tissue and wash your face.
• If you have a fever , cough, trouble breathing, or any other possible signs of respiratory disease, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the disease from spreading.

Because of the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) that can spread from person to person globally, cases of COVID-19 have been identified and verified in the United Republic of Tanzania, as of 23 March 2020. Therefore the Government of Tanzania implemented additional travel measures to restrict the spread of the virus to the general public.

In view of the above consideration, it is highly recommended that all travelers to the United Republic of Tanzania follow the following instructions:

• All passengers, whether visitors or returning citizens arriving from COVID-19 most affected countries, will be subject to mandatory isolation at the designated facilities specified by the government for 14 days at their own expense.
• Passengers will fill in the aircraft Safety Surveillance Form, or some other means of transportation, and send them upon arrival to Port Health Authorities.
• All travelers must undergo extensive screening and rapid COVID-19 testing where appropriate.
• The specified isolation facilities, costs and arrangements in place and access to those facilities will be informed to all travellers.
• Passengers who have not acquired COVID-19 symptoms that leave the facilities after 14 days of quarantine, and will be needed to report personal details for potential future tracking purposes.
• It is recommended that all people living in Tanzania avoid non-essential travel to the countries affected by COVID 19.
• Please call the Health Emergency Number 199 in case of any medical emergency while in United Republic of Tanzania.

NB: This Travel Alert will be revised as the situation progresses and more information becomes available about the outbreak.

Tanzania has lifted flight restrictions and quarantine for travellers from abroad in an effort to revive tourism.

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli said on Sunday he plans to re-open universities and allow the resumption of sports and international flights if the decline in new coronavirus infections continues.

The Tanzanian government closed schools, stopped international flights and prohibited large gatherings but most of the daily economic activity continued. Religious services were also allowed to continue unlike neighbors like Rwanda and Uganda which enforced complete lockdowns.

Magufuli challenged the accuracy of the COVID-19 test kits during his speech at service. At one time he even requested people to pray for the virus so that operations could restart in the days ahead.

“If the trend I am seeing continues in the coming week, I plan to open up universities so students can continue with their education,” Magufuli said while speaking at a church service in northwest Tanzania.

“I am also planning as a nation to allow sports to continue because sports is part of entertainment for Tanzanians.”

Magufuli said the country’s hospitals had shown a increasing trend in recovery without precise dates to give. One hospital in Dar es Salaam had 198 patients but now only had 12 cases to be treated.

He said one of his kids had also screened positively for the virus but recovered after self-isolation.

Magufuli said he declined to enforce a lockout because the move would negatively harm the economy and result in job losses. “This was a strange guideline (lockdown), we have embarked on a lot of projects that would have grounded to a halt,” he said.

Magufuli said he declined to enforce a lockout, as the move would severely harm the economy and result in job losses. “It was a strange guideline (lockdown) … we’ve embarked on a number of projects that should have ground to a halt,” he said.

Tanzania has been criticized by international health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), for being reluctant to implement social distancing steps and lacking consistency in its pandemic strategy.

Unlike most other African countries the government has gone for days without publicly releasing their COVID-19 updates.

According to WHO reports, there are 509 confirmed cases, and 21 deaths. However, the United States warned on Wednesday that the commercial capital Dar es Salaam was experiencing a “exponential” growth of COVID-19 infections and reported that patients were overwhelmed at some hospitals in the area.

Later on Saturday Magufuli removed deputy health minister Faustine Ndugulile, without providing an explanation. The move followed the suspension of the head of the country’s national laboratory after Magufuli questioned the COVID-19 test kits.

Magufuli said that some unspecified airlines had secured full bookings of tourists planning to visit Tanzania and that when those tourists arrive they would not be required to enter mandatory quarantine but would have their temperature checked.

“If they have no signs of corona, let them go see the animals,” he said.

Despite its status as an outsider among East African responses to Coronavirus Updates Tanzania, the government continues to proliferate its acts to limit freedom of speech, dissent, and access to information.

COVID-19/Coronavirus Updates Tanzania containment measures in Tanzania have been substantially less stringent compared to its neighboring nations, where lockdowns and travel restrictions have become the norm to a large degree.

Despite closing schools and colleges, imposing a suspension on mass public meetings, and urging people not to leave home for non-essential reasons, statistics suggest that the everyday life has been minimally affected for the majority of working citizens.

Government officials have highlighted the risk of hunger caused by lockdowns and the need to protect economic stability, with the deputy minister of health noting that ‘when you go for a total lockdown it means some will instead die of hunger.’

Though such concerns about the impact of containment measures on food security and the informal economy are widely shared across Sub-Saharan Africa, the credibility of Tanzania is undermined by poorly judged and reckless public statements, notably from the Presidency.

Ahead of the Easter weekend, President Magufuli repeatedly urged the public to congregate at churches and mosques, stating the virus could not survive in the bodies of the faithful. And citizens able to self-quarantine by choice were urged to ‘get out and work’ by the regional commissioner of Dar es Salaam.

Officially, at the beginning of May Tanzania had reported the most COVID-19 cases of any EAC member state. But the truth could be worse. Although neighboring countries provide regular updates on case numbers and have started mass testing programs, Tanzania has sporadically or not published figures at all.

Videos circulated on social media claiming to display clandestine night burials feeding mounting suspicion that the true nature of infections is purposely being concealed.

Whether these statements are correct or not, the authorities’ inability to provide frequent and timely reports partly makes them complicit in this growing environment of confusion. And while the government presents the answer to coronavirus as a binary option between public health and the economic effects of containment, these are not the only problems that are at stake.

Under the Magufuli administration advancing threats to civil liberties are being put into much sharper relief. There were countless arrests under the terms of the 2015 Statistics Act, which criminalized the collection and release of non-official statistics, although a 2019 amendment softened the restrictions after sustained international pressure.

Tanzania also dropped another six places in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index, with no other country having fallen further in the rankings since 2015. The epidemic may accelerate these negative trends further and reverse hard-fought gains.

The government was quick to bring legal action against anyone deemed to spread misinformation about the virus, with only the health ministry, the prime minister and the president allowed to share details. There came a series of crackdowns, with strict sanctions levied on media reporting, and reports of arrests of journalists.

Tanzania also agreed to keep its land and water borders free, without any formal limitation on interregional travel. President Magufuli justified the decision as the need for a lifeline for the region’s landlocked countries.

International passenger flights continued until April 12, more than two weeks after Kenya and Uganda suspended theirs, and then reopened on May 18. Thus far arriving travellers have been expected to self-quarantine for 14 days, but in the face of prohibitive private accommodation costs, and with minimal enforcement, this rule appears to have been widely flouted and may now be dropped entirely to encourage tourism to resume.

Tanzania’s parliament is certainly unlikely to hold the government to account as opposition parties are boycotting the National Assembly after an unnamed MP tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-April and three MPs subsequently died of undisclosed causes within an 11-day period. Essential parliamentary committees and activities should be moved online where possible and secure to do so, to ensure crisis decision-making does not go entirely unchecked.

None of this is novel. Poor government coordination was a hallmark of Tanzania’s response to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 2018 Ebola outbreak and the World Health Organization (WHO) has received a rare public reprimand from the Tanzanian government for failing to provide official reports on suspected Ebola cases.

Now, as then, a lack of transparency does not only mask the scale and scope of the crisis faced, but also presents a serious barrier to international support. With general elections set to go ahead in October, government intimidation and secrecy pose an existential threat to the integrity of democracy, and will be the subject of renewed scrutiny over the coming months. But Tanzania’s international partners must not let rising case numbers, or food security concerns, entirely obscure attacks on civil liberties carried out under the cover of the epidemic.

Tanzania will reopen universities and other higher learning institutions beginning 1 June 2020. This is the clearest sign that the East African nation of about 60 million people will ease the comparatively mild restrictions imposed by the government to contain the widespread COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

The decision follows the recent declaration by President John Magufuli that there was a decrease in COVID-19 cases in the world, despite warnings from the World Health Organization and the international community. “With the fall in COVID-19 cases, we have decided that universities should reopen on June 1,” President Magufuli said on 21 May, according to The Citizen newspaper.

Officials said the reopening of primary and secondary schools would be delayed. Meanwhile the country’s Higher Education Students’ Loans Board announced on 21 May it had disbursed loans to university students amounting to US$28 million to cater for students’ meals and accommodation for the third quarter of the remaining academic year.

“The education loans will be paid out to the beneficiaries in their respective universities by May 28,” the board said in a statement.At least 132,119 students drawn from 70 higher education institutions will benefit from the loans scheme in the 2019-20 academic year, the statement said.

On 18 March, the Tanzanian authorities ordered a national shutdown of universities and colleges as a government measure to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Coronavirus Updates Tanzania-In partnership with @ElimikaWikiendi, a popular Kiswahili online social media platform for public development education in Tanzania and Eastern Africa, UNESCO has launched a communication campaign to reinforce the UN and national efforts against coronavirus.

UNESCO outreach and initiatives are aimed at fostering cohesion, combating disinformation, hate speech and misconceptions, addressing prejudice, supporting funding for education and distance learning, protecting journalists, and supporting reliable, gender-responsive and accurate media programming, particularly community radio.

Exposure to reliable, gender-responsive and credible knowledge is crucial to avoiding the spread of the pandemic in order to dissipate misconceptions, curb the spread of fear and ensure that the public has the facts to keep themselves and others protected from contracting and/or transmitting the disease. Even in this period, media will play a crucial role in curtailing hate speech and prejudice.

Leaks from foreigners in Tanzania have indicated reports of calling names on the sidewalks, and the general apprehension of foreigners catching the disease is evident. Public health and sanitation information is crucial at this time , particularly to rural and hard-to – reach communities mainly accessible by community radios sponsored by UNESCO.

On 17 March, the government banned all public gatherings and closed schools from pre-school to tertiary level. At this time, the UNESCO experience and expertise in convening stakeholders and resources in the field of online and distance education are extremely relevant. Education resources are relevant to teachers / guardians / instructors on developing and conducting online student learning sessions at all levels to ensure that learning does not stop.  In immediate response to this, UNESCO has updated an online guide with links to distance apps and other resources for supplementary learning accessible on https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-emergencies/coronavirus-school-closures/solutions.

Free access to UNESCO resources for actions to support media, enhance access to information and leverage digital technologies in the fight against the corona pandemic are also available on https://en.unesco.org/themes/communication-and-information/covid19-informationsharing-counteringdisinformation/resource-center.

Policymakers, media and the public also have free access to global and national news updates on emerging trends related to COVID19.through an online monitoring platform developed by UNESCO and the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence on http://coronaviruswatch.ircai.org/.

Tanzania is among the 13 high-risk COVID-19 countries classified by WHO AFRO. This communications plan meets the requirement of a robust, multi-sector preparedness and response plan to ensure readiness and agency-led action for any outbreak. In all outreach and interventions, content, programming and broadcasting adequately incorporate and address considerations for gender and human rights unique to this crisis.

Coronavirus Updates Tanzania-Despite the fact that the Tanzanian government had initiated teaching in the near future through television programs for classes with national exams in collaboration with civil society organizations and media houses, the realization of the right of children to education has been a huge challenge during this time of school closure.

Many students in rural areas have little exposure to TVs, nor do they have a sufficient source of illumination during the night for their studies. Much of the kids at home are occupied with household tasks and other subsistence practices during the day. This not only risks their standard seven education and forms four exams which determine their future, but it also risks their health.

Halima (17) is a four-student form at Mundemu Secondary School located in the central part of Tanzania, Dodoma district. She is also a kid funded by the World Vision as she noted, “studying at home has given me a rough time, as the focus of my parent is house work, and schooling is just something special. Our village is has no power. The only source of light that I can read from is candle or at times kerosene lamp.”

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology closed the school on March 17th, 2020 as one of the measures to prevent and control the novel coronavirus transmission. It has influenced the schooling of the most disadvantaged girls, since only a few topics have been studied at this period. Accessibility to the books was restricted, and the home study climate was unconducive.

“We were not yet halfway through the topics at the time of the school closing and would be addressed in form four. It makes things much more complicated. I often use exercise books, though, to review the lessons from form one to those learned in form four at the beginning of the year prior to the school closure, “Halima clarified.

Unlike privileged students who mostly reside in town and have access to internet, television and electricity to study after dark, COVID- 19 and school closure have affected students in rural Tanzania like Halima, who have to go to their teacher’s house to follow with the themes broadcast through television programs. At times, these programmes are not able to finish due to cut-off of power from solar panels.

“Last week, my colleagues and I went to the teacher’s house to watch TV while they discussed the topic of Biology. Halima remembered that the electricity went out halfway into the project. “It makes me far more lose out on my time primarily at school and hostel, like night time research and community meetings where I get to know from my colleagues.”

Teachers have been persistent in helping their pupils, making sure they are receiving decent grades on their test later this year. Not only did they encourage them to train at their places, but they also began the system of printing and disseminating assessments so students would assess their performance and how much they have progressed.

“As teachers, we weekly prepare tests for students and deliver them at village executive officer’s office, where to minimize population parents collect them for their children and later on send children’s response back for review. This enables them to assess themselves and identify subjects that need more effort for better performance on the last exam,” said Reagan Riwa, academic master and English subject teacher at Mundemu Secondary School.

With the implementation of COVID-19, the Ministry of Education has released instructions for school operations. Furthermore, universities, colleges and advanced high school students (form six) were opened when an alert was given for ordinary level and primary schools to begin planning for an opening.

“As universities and colleges open, we hope for the reopening soon to continue with the studies as we are protecting ourselves. My dream is to become a nurse, and I would love to operate in the villages so that I can be able to serve mothers and children and also educating youth on their health through peers group. With form four examination being a pathway to my dream, I am studying very hard regardless of the circumstances to ensure I achieve my dream,” said Halima with a smile on her face indicating determination and courage.

Coronavirus Updates Tanzania-The Health Ministry has released a collection of guidelines to direct the healthy reopening of academic institutions throughout the country academies and universities in colleges. The resumption will take effect Monday 1 June.

School leadership, academies and educational institutions should encourage students, teachers and their staff to wear cloth face masks when they return, a May 28 statement read in part.

Authorities are to ensure soap and water handwashing stations as well as adequate supplies of other sanitation supplies as towels and toiletries.

Spacing is another condition they are tasked with enforcing. Students with symptoms of the infection will be screened while those who acquired it will remain away until their condition changes. Universities which have been used as quarantine centers shall be disinfected 72 hours before reopening.

During the height of the transmission of the virus, Tanzania did not close land boundaries beyond airspace. A lockout or curfew were not enforced by the Authorities. Since late April official virus stats have not been released.

This is one of the region’s first countries to reopen schools having closed its skies to local and international traffic earlier. The WHO Africa director also condemned the government’s treatment of the infection. While allegations of ‘faulty’ research package have been denied by Africa CDC.

Total confirmed cases = 509

Total recoveries = 183

Total deaths = 21

Active cases = 305

Figures valid as of close of day May 29, 2020

Coronavirus Updates Tanzania-On Monday the chief of Tanzania proclaimed free the East African nation “COVID-19. President John Magufuli has linked the suspected impact of the global pandemic to sacrifices and fasting given to God by the people of Tanzania.

He reportedly lauded those who didn’t wear protective materials such as masks and gloves. This is despite express instructions by the World Health Organization (WHO) that people wear especially masks as a preventive measure. But the World Health Organization has said that Tanzania is delayed releasing any data on COVID-19 infections.

“It gives me joy to be the leader of a country that puts God first, God loves Tanzania,”Magufuli said.

“The works of the devil will always be defeated in Tanzania because Tanzanians love God and that is why even the corona has been defeated by God,” Magufuli told a Catholic congregation in the capital Dodoma.

Tanzanians on social media have praised their president for “defeating COVID-19,” claiming that this would free up the market, offering the people of Tanzania more employment and business prospects.

In early May during an address to a church congregation, Magufuli stressed that when the neighbours are done with their lockdowns, they could still come for help with food.

“There is not going to be any such thing as lockdown in Tanzania, God will help us. We need to work hard, once the other East Africans are done with their lockdown, they will come to us, and we shall still help them with food, we will not against discriminate them.”

Tanzania has 509 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 21 deaths, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The US Embassy in Tanzania has reported that there is an exceptionally high chance of acquiring coronavirus in Dar es Salaam, a big city and commercial port, and other regions because it hasn’t released COVID-19 data in many weeks.

The head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “we remain optimistic” that Tanzania would help by sharing its COVID-19 results, even as the country’s president proclaimed victory over the pandemic.

John Nkengasong says “they understand exactly what is at stake” in the East African nation, which has not updated its virus data since late April. Tanzania’s number of cases remains frozen at 509, while opposition leaders have asserted there are actually tens of thousands.

At a church service on Sunday, President John Magufuli announced that “the corona in our nation has been destroyed by God’s forces,” and he thanked the congregation for not wearing face masks. He has cautioned that the virus might affect masks that are not licensed by the government.

The authorities in Tanzania have not released official figures on the extent of the outbreak there since the start of May. Schools are due to reopen on June 29 and the virus has been largely defeated by President John Magufuli, but the lack of data has led to increasing concern about the true level of infections.

Tanzania’s neighbours, as well as international health organizations, have expressed concerns that downplaying the epidemic there could adversely impact the wider region.

In mid-June, the country’s prime minister informed parliament that there were

66 confirmed cases of coronavirus but no further specifics were given.

In response to this statement, the government has not provided further statistics on illnesses or fatalities. The president has claimed it was needless pressure to report the statistics. Human rights advocates say health employees are reluctant to think about the extent of crisis.

“Tanzania has always had very repressive laws against freedom of expression and the press,” says Roland Ebole, a regional researcher at Amnesty International.

“We are now seeing these laws being used in a more intensive way to target those who are speaking out, especially about Covid-19,” says Mr Ebole.

Tanzania has been “strongly” called by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to report its new outbreak results. The last updated statistics released on April 29 recorded 480 cases and 21 fatalities (in early May, Zanzibar’s island territories subsequently added 29 more cases). President Magufuli later provided limited data on patients with Covid-19 admitted to hospitals and health centres.

He said the number of patients in two large hospitals in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, has dropped from 228 to 18, although he didn’t give a timeframe for these figures. He also gave figures for a few other hospitals around the country.

Since then, government officials have provided some data on three occasions but in a way which makes it hard to draw comparisons.

Late May, prime minister of the country Kassim Majaliwa said the number of patients in Dar es Salaam’s two major hospitals had fallen to only two. Of the hospitals he listed, the overall national count was 32.

The country’s health minister Ummy Mwalimu early June told a gathering in the coastal region of Tanga that the two main hospitals treating coronavirus patients in the country only had four patients.

She mentioned other regions that had no cases but didn’t give the total number nationally or say whether more deaths had been reported. “Unless we have a full reporting, in the true spirit of good public health practice, it is difficult to ascertain and validate that,” Africa CDC head John Nkengasong told the BBC.

In May, the US embassy in Tanzania issued an alert warning that many hospitals in the city had been “overwhelmed” in recent weeks. “The risk of contracting Covid-19 in Dar es Salaam is extremely high. Despite limited official reports, all evidence points to exponential growth of the epidemic in Dar and other locations in Tanzania,” the alert said. The government dismissed the warning and summoned the US envoy.

The embassy warns in the most recent warning that “given the presumed continuing population transmission in Dar es Salaam and other locations in Tanzania, the danger of Covid-19 contracting remains high.”

Transmission of the virus through the boundaries of Tanzania is of special concern to its neighbors. These routes are heavily used for transporting goods across the region and the fear is that lorry drivers and other travellers are spreading the virus.

Testing is being carried out on people travelling out of Tanzania and into Kenya, Zambia and Uganda (and in some cases being sent back if they’re positive).

Zambia’s Nakonde district, which is just south of the border with Tanzania, has experienced by far the most cases in the country, higher than the country’s capital, Lusaka. There is a major trading route that passes through this region, delivering goods from Tanzania’s ports into Zambia, which is landlocked.

There is a similar situation in Kenya – officials are testing lorry drivers before they are allowed into the country. In May, more than 100 people arriving from Tanzania tested positive for coronavirus and were sent back.

The country’s authorities have been sluggish in providing reports on the amount of infections with coronavirus though President John Magufuli has stubbornly declined to implement strict legislation to control the spread of the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has chided Tanzania for its ongoing lack of cooperation and transparency in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

After four days of silence, on Wednesday, authorities issued their first report on the amount of COVID-19 infections. About every African nation publishes regular updates about their latest amount of illnesses, deaths and recoveries.

In the update, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the country of 56 million people had now recorded 480 cases of COVID-19 and 16 deaths. The new tally represents a 69% jump in just five days.

Majaliwa gave no reason for the government’s silence on coronavirus figures, although he warned against “any people ‘s propensity to release fake data that contributes to needless civil unrest.”

Coronavirus cases have been relatively low across Africa compared to Europe and the US. However, the continent has a much lower capacity for testing, with approximately 500 tests carried out per one million people.

On 16 March Tanzania reported the first case of coronavirus. President John Magufuli has been strongly blamed at home and internationally for his reaction to the pandemic, after a dramatic rise in the number of reported cases within one month.

In his message on Friday, the International Workers’ Day, Magufuli encouraged Tanzanians to start operating, adding that coronavirus would not deter staff from helping community while he stressed that employees would obey the instructions of health authorities.

Magufuli also dismissed the need to curb citizens’ travel, arguing that restrictive policies of social exclusion would severely harm the economy. While wide public events were prohibited and colleges and universities closed, markets stayed free.

Magufuli also urged Tanzanians to meet and pray in churches and mosques that say the coronavirus can’t damage bodies of the faithful.

“You haven’t seen me fearing to take communion, because corona[virus] is satanic and can’t survive in Jesus’ body. It will be destroyed,” he told worshippers in a church in the capital, Dodoma.

Daniel El-Noshokaty, the Resident Representative for Tanzania from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), told DW that Tanzanians are still trying to practice social distancing as best they can although it’s easier for those who are able to stay at home.

“Most people are aware of the virus and most people are aware of how it spreads, so they’re trying to isolate themselves as much as they can,” he says. “But a lot of people just can’t isolate themselves because they have to go out and earn money every day.

El-Noshokaty says he hopes that Magufuli would finally pursue the models of neighboring Kenya and Uganda, which implemented lockout steps and also witnessed a decline in new cases afterwards.

“I hope the government will change their mind. But since the president has ruled out a lockdown and since he’s not very well known for changing his mind, I don’t think that anything will change soon.”

The embassy of the United States in Dar es Salaam released a safety alert about the lack of policy accountability about the treatment of the COVID-19 crisis. The announcement from the Embassy came a week after the foreign ministry recalled the diplomat about an earlier comment. The 2 June 2020 announcement confirmed the possibility of contracting the virus remained high.

It complained how the government has yet to issue updated statistics since April 29, and that many airlines had begun reservations for flights outside the world. Recently, Airspace, as well as colleges and high schools were opened. Sporting activities are allowed, too.

The Tanzanian government has not released aggregate numbers on COVID-19 cases or deaths since April 29. Consequently, we are unable to provide specific guidance for U.S. citizens in Tanzania.

The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19. For emergency American Citizen Services, including emergency passports, please visit our website for additional information.

Given the presumed ongoing community transmission in Dar es Salaam and other locations in Tanzania, the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains high. The Embassy has recommended that U.S. government personnel and their families reduce movement outside of their home except for essential activities and limit the number of visitors entering their home.

During a health-care crisis, health care services during Tanzania will easily become overloaded. There were times during the COVID-19 epidemic where hospitals in Dar es Salaam exceeded maximum capacity owing to COVID-19 cases with a large number.

Restricted hospital resources across Tanzania could contribute to life-threatening delays in emergency medical treatment. The Government of Tanzania lifted the suspension on international flights to Tanzania and several airlines have scheduled international flights beginning June 2020.

The Arusha area of Tanzania claims that Kenya is taking measures intended to impact its tourism prospects by releasing defective COVID-19 test results for cross-country truck drivers.

In a statement issued on May 20, regional commissioner Mrisho Gambo said nineteen drivers declared positive by Kenya had tested negative in Tanzania.

“In efforts to confirm reliability of COVID-19 test results, we took samples from 19 drivers from Tanzania who had tested and declared positive by Kenya authorities at Namanga border on Kenyan side.

“After these samples were submitted to our main national laboratory in Dar es Salaam, the results came back as negative for all these drivers from Tanzania. Arusha region is confident that this is a deliberate sabotage strategy designed by Kenya against our tourism industry in Arusha and Tanzania at large,” the statement read in part.

Drivers considered “good” were not permitted to cross the border into Tanzania or reach Kenya, the commissioner noted. He said Arusha remained committed with Kenyan authorities to find an amicable solution.

The news came a day after Kenya reported that after testing positive for the virus, more than 180 tourists have returned to Tanzania. Kenya has closed its boundary side due to transmission of virus.

Zambia also recently shut a common border with Tanzania. The town of Nakonde remains Zambia’s most infected area having recorded much more cases that the capital Lusaka.

Coronavirus Updates Tanzania-This week, the Tanzanian government, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the new US ambassador on recent COVID-19 advisories.

Ambassador Inmi Patterson was summoned to the Ministry where she was employed by Colonel Wilbert Ibuge, Permanent Secretary, a statement posted on the Twitter page of the Ministry.

The embassy in a May 13 advisory said the risk of virus contamination remained extremely high in Dar es Salaam and in other parts of the country.

Government said the information was inaccurate and could have created friction between Tanzanians and foreigners. Ibuge also emphasized that it was safe for ambassadors to ask for accurate and official information before bringing it out in public.

The statement also pointed out that no official figures had been issued since late April, and that Dar hospitals were also overwhelmed. No justification for the arguments has been adduced. Days later President Magufuli announced that, with God’s support, the country was winning the fight against the virus.

“Hotel managers, barbers, companies and firms are all back to work. All will be pleased for us by Sunday our God has won (the battle against the virus). Switch on your radio, I gave you freedom that day, “these are the words of Paul Makonda, Dar es Salaam ‘s regional commissioner.

His declaration is the latest in the Tanzanian government’s stance toward a virus that has resulted in lockdowns being imposed and physical distancing being implemented in most African countries.

During an address to a church congregation over the weekend, President Magufuli echoed the God factor in battling the virus which he said was being defeated by the country.

“There is not going to be any such thing as lockdown in Tanzania, God will help us. We need to work hard, once the other East Africans are done with their lockdown, they will come to us, and we shall still help them with food, we will not against discriminate them.”

The list of cases in Tanzania has been 509 for weeks now. No new statistics have been released, and the U.S. embassy has rejected a health alert regarding overloaded hospitals in Dar es Salaam, the largest city.

The number of coronavirus patients in Tanzania’s hospitals has been “sharply decreasing,” the president said, four days after the country’s U.S. embassy announced that several hospitals had been “overwhelmed.”

John Magufuli was speaking to an applauding church congregation when he said: “God has answered your prayers.”

In the past he has accused health officials of exaggerating the crisis. Tanzania does not have strict lockdown measures like those in other countries.

The number of coronavirus patients in Tanzania’s hospitals has been “sharply decreasing,” the president said, four days after the country’s U.S. embassy announced that several hospitals had been “overwhelmed.”

Large public gatherings were prohibited and schools closed but videos of night burials posted on social media prompted some to call into question the approach of the government.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also expressed concern about the government’s strategy. The authorities have been slow to reveal official data.

Despite Wednesday’s warning that the chances of catching the virus were “highly high,” the US embassy did not provide information supporting its assertion that hospitals in the commercial center, Dar es Salaam, were struggling to cope with it.

Speaking at a church service in his hometown of Chato, north-west Tanzania, President Magufuli revealed that his own child had contracted the virus but was now well and “doing push-ups”.

He said the child had made a recovery following a regimen of self-isolation, steam inhalation, and lemon and ginger juice, the BBC’s Sammy Awami reports from Tanzania.

Yet there is no proof that, physicians claim, such therapies succeed and the vast majority of people with coronavirus will recover. Mr Magufuli provided some numbers information about a fortnight after the publication of the last official figures.

According to the president, Amana Hospital in Dar es Salaam, which treated 198 Covid-19 patients at one point, today has just 12 patients with the virus. Other Dar es Salaam hospitals suffered similar decreases, he added.

“The way I see this trend, if the week beginning from tomorrow continues like this, I plan to open places of higher education so that our students can continue with their studies,” he said.

He added that plans to quarantine tourists could also be relaxed next month. According to data from the African Union’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Tanzania has had 509 recorded coronavirus cases and 21 deaths.

Governance is one of the key topics of debate among the various responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Different countries have responded differently to the pandemic. These variations are told across the globe by various leadership and governance types.

Countries with open and transparent governance models have followed a more realistic approach by involving a range of stakeholders. For example, scholars who analyzed the COVID-19 responses in China, Japan and South Korea found there was systematic evidence that different governance decisions resulted in different outcomes.

In the case of Tanzania, I argue that COVID-19 has revealed, rather than informed, the governance style under the current administration.

Writing about India’s handling of the latest coronavirus, Amartya Sen Professor of Economics and Nobel laureate of Economics in 1998 said tackling a social calamity is not like fighting a war, which works better when a leader can use top-down authority to order others to do what the leader wants without having to consult.

In line with this thinking, being transparent and engaging diverse groups, including both loyalists and critics, is crucial for governments in the fight against the virus.

In Tanzania the same view was taken by President John Magufuli. He has described COVID-19 as a battle, rather than a health crisis that needs scientific consultation. As a result, the pandemic has been treated at the President’s whim.

Since Magufuli expressed his reservations about the national laboratory’s professionalism, no further announcements were made regarding COVID-19. It is no longer easy to say whether the government’s release of data is focused on facts, or whether it is simply because the president needs to announce lower figures.

Magufuli ‘s response to COVID-19 is traditional. He is a president who has always taken on an idiosyncratic leadership style. He has behaved arbitrarily ever since his election in 2015. This split the government, while consolidating presidential power. And his own political party has been a victim of his autocratic leadership style.

Magufuli downplayed the danger of the pandemic and promoted the use of local and home remedies such as ginger and lemon tea, and steam therapy as a way of avoiding infection.

He openly challenged the validity of the COVID-19 experiments that were used in laboratories in Tanzania. He then offered to send a plane gathering the traditional cure for the virus from Madagascar.

This comment marked the conclusion of daily updates by the health minister on the country’s response to COVID-19. A presidential announcement was preceded by the God answered Tanzanians’ prayers against the pandemic.

The president then appointed a new deputy minister of health probably because the former had questioned the use of steaming therapy to manage the virus.

Two weeks earlier, the president had appointed a new Constitutional and Legal Affairs minister, following the sudden death of his predecessor. The new minister was given the unusual task of investigating the activities of the national laboratory and its handling of COVID-19 testing. Both men had previously supported Magufuli’s response to the pandemic.

Such appointments offer the true impression that in Tanzania, loyalty to the president is very important. Don’t tolerate dissenters. It’s no wonder that when he made an offer to partner with the government to combat the virus, the official opposition leader in parliament was repulsed.

Civil society organizations have also been sidelined. But faith-based organizations have been won over by the government’s decision to keep places of worship open. Religion has been framed as a more appropriate response to COVID-19 than science.

In 2017, following calls to the contrary, Magufuli barred pregnant schoolgirls from continuing school. As a result the World Bank postponed the issuance of an education loan of $500 million. Eventually, Magufuli bowed to the pressure and lifted the ban.

His response to a proposed countrywide protest organized by the opposition Chadema party was another indication of Magufuli’s intransigence. Police were threatening to use intimidation to discourage people from participating. After religious leaders and civil society called for mediation the opposition finally called off the protest.

To date, there has not been any dialogue between the government and Chadema.

The lack of dialog and hostility against Chadema and other opposition parties has resulted in more division between the administration and dissenters of Magufuli.

The state answer to COVID-19 is well within the playbook for Magufuli. He behaves arbitrarily, thus polarizing the country and consolidating presidential power. This is often at the expense of the ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi. Power in the executive is centralized. Group bodies and leaders do not have the organization to keep accountable to the President.

Critics within the ruling party have been punished and expelled.

The autocracy of the executive compelled the opposition party, from the ground up, to reinforce its institutions. It now appears Chadema is institutionally becoming a stronger faction. The ruling party, in reaction, has resorted to using coercion to retain its hold on power.

One strategic change he took at the beginning of his presidency is illustrative of recognizing how Magufuli consolidated power. He separated the office of the Regional Administration and Local Governments from the Prime Minister’s office and put it in the President’s office.

The office is responsible for administering education, health, and development projects within local districts across the country.

Local government issues are thus reported directly to the office of the president, and are managed from the very core of the executive branch. This systemic transition has redirected the generation of taxes towards the central government. The President also used political appointees from local government to silence dissenters.

Therefore, it is obvious that he must determine whether COVID-19 cases have decreased or increased in Tanzania, no matter what the science suggests.

However, the country’s true fate lies in the hands of Tanzanians. They can only take back their strength.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) swept through Asia, Europe and North America earlier this year, medical experts warned it was only a matter of time before other continents, including Africa, would begin reporting cases. That day came for Tanzania on Monday 16 March 2020, when Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu announced the country’s first case of COVID-19.

The first case, a woman, had traveled to Belgium from Tanzania on March 3rd and returned on March 15th. She took a taxi to the town of Arusha where she locked herself in a self-quarantine room but later called government officials who took her for treatment. The minister said the patient was being treated in solitary confinement and was doing well.

The news quickly spread in the country, and normal life seemed to change overnight. In Dar-es-Salaam and other major cities, people rushed to shops to stock up on food items, drinks and other essentials.

The shortage of masks and hand sanitizers had been dramatic in pharmacies. Entrepreneurs took advantage of the situation and these goods, which were not previously popularly known in the world, reached skyrocket prices in one night. For example, the price of hand sanitizers increased to $7 from US$ 1 for a 100ml bottle. A box of gloves was going for up to $20 while masks were out of stock altogether.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa shut down all primary and secondary schools, colleges and other institutions of higher learning for one month to help curb the spread of the deadly virus.

Meetings and conferences had been cancelled around the world. Today, almost all public building spaces have sanitizers and containers of chlorine-treated water and hand washing soap.

Citizen journalism, along with rumors and theories about COVID-19, was on the rise in the region. The accuracy of the news media in sharing statistics, figures and other key messages about the virus has helped people to understand the epidemic, but more is still needed.

Government officials have continued to educate citizens on the virus. The Health ministry has issued a hotline number for people to call in case of symptoms, and President John Magufuli has asked Tanzanians to help stop the disease from spreading.

“All the progress we are making can be brought to a halt by this disease which is killing many people around the world,” said the President.

President Magufuli is also engaging in social distancing. When he recently met with an opposition leader, instead of the normal handshakes and hugs, the two politicians tapped their respective feet to each other, prompting others to follow suit.

Economists warn that the social and economic impact of COVID-19 will be huge. Small businesses are starting to feel the heat. For example, Ms. Hassan, a food vendor, fears that the spread of the virus could kill her business.

“This disease is very bad; I am losing my customers very fast. I depend on selling food to pay my rent and feed my family. I don’t know how I will survive if people don’t come to buy because of this coronavirus,” said Ms. Hassan. She is not alone in this predicament. Many other small-scale traders across the continent are facing this uncertainty.

As Tanzanians heed the call to stay home, the more their lives continue to change. What is clear though, is the need for more factual information to curb the fear and panic, and to debunk myths about the virus.

A pandemic is an infectious disease that transcends international borders and typically affects a significant number of people globally or rather widely. Everything concerning population immunity, virology or seriousness of the disease is included in the classical description a pandemic. By this definition, pandemics in each of the temperate southern and northern hemispheres can be said to occur every year, provided that frequent scourges cross universal borders and impact a huge number of individuals. Seasonal epidemics are not known to be pandemics anyway.

Many people around the world wonder:-Is Corona virus man made? Is corona virus a bio weapon? How corona virus started? Where did corona virus start from? Where did corona virus come from? What is the history of Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is believed to have originated within the Hubei region of the Chinese town of Wuhan. It is known that this infection originated from the seafood market, where it is suspected that it managed to cross from the live animals that were being sold here and were transmitted to people afterwards. As of today, all scientific results published suggest that this virus is natural, not man-made or changed in any way.

Yes, corona virus mutates much like the other virus out there, but the pace at which this virus mutates is sluggish, so within the efforts made to develop a vaccine for it, it does not pose as a massive stumbling block.

What do you feel when you contract Coronavirus? Coronavirus signs and symptoms are no different from common flu or cold, and these ranges from mild to less typical to extreme symptoms.

Some common symptoms include

• Fever
• Cough
• Fatigue

Less frequent symptoms include

• Arches and pains
• Sore throat
• Diarrhoea
• Conjunctivitis
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• A rash on the skin, discoloration of fingers or toes

Serious symptoms include

• Shortness or difficulty in breathing
• Pain, or pressure in the chest
• Loss of speech or movement

Individuals with weak immune systems are the ones who have the most notable chances of contracting this dangerous infection according to health specialists. There is no guarantee, though, that if you have a strong immune system you will just not contract the virus.

After you’re infected with the Corona virus, you will begin to experience or develop some of the signs and symptoms we said above. Such symptoms include headache, fever, Arches and pain. Such feelings are formed as a result of a powerful immune system in your body that responds to the illness. The immune system can perceive the virus as an unfriendly attacker, and indicates to the rest of your body that something is wrong by discharging chemicals called cytokines, which in effect triggers such symptoms to happen to you as a solid battle against the invading virus. Perhaps a few people will start coughing up sputum-a thick mucus fluid that includes dead lung cells killed by the virus.

However, you shouldn’t always hit the panic button when this happens to you, but or maybe reasonably have enough bed rest, take plenty of fluids and paracetamol, and you can recover from it. This stage lasts about a week at which point most people recover as their immune system fight the infection. Some will, however, develop a more severe form of Covid-19, requiring special treatment from qualified doctors.

Although many people have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains globally, COVID-19 is a new virus against which only a few people have immunity. This, therefore, implies that more people are likely to get infected with this disease. Globally, nearly 3.4 per cent of confirmed cases of COVID-19 have died. In contrast, seasonal flu, for the most part, kills far less than 1% of those infected.

Coronavirus can spread in many ways, and the most common ones that have been proved to be the easiest way to transfer the infection from individual to individual are the following;

• If a person coughs or sneezes, the disease may spread from individual to individual through respiratory droplets expelled from the nose or mouth. In this case, it is vital to maintain a distance of more than two meters from a sick person.
• The virus may also spread when you touch a surface that a sick person with Coronavirus has touched. This is likely because this virus can persist for some time on objects or surfaces around the sick person. In the event that you touch these items or surfaces and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you can as well be infected.

The Coronavirus pandemic has extraordinary consequences for the global population. Old people are facing the main dangers and threats in many nations at this moment. Given the fact that all age groups are likely to contract COVID-19, older people pose a greater risk of severe illness due to physiological changes that occur with ageing and potential underlying health conditions.

Coronavirus death is currently decreasing in a few countries such as Italy, UK, France, Belgium, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Australia and the USA. There are, however, other countries like Brazil, Chile, India and many others where Coronavirus death cases continue to grow rapidly.

No, assuming that Corona virus infection will be gone by summertime is exceptionally troubling given that there are countries that haven’t reached their peak number of infections and deaths. The other explanation is that as of today, the planet has more than 9.7 million corona virus cases.

When anyone gives you a clear date on which they assume the coronavirus will disappear, so without any doubt at that time, know that you are being laid because there is nobody who knows when this virus will stop. It is simply because this virus has the potential to exist inside someone without ever making this person show any signs or symptoms of getting it and yet they can always pass it on to another person unknowingly. But, one sure way we would expect this virus to stop is when an effective vaccine is made.

In general, it is recommended to avoid unnecessary travel. In case of travel, the respect of barrier gestures is indicated:

• Monitor symptoms daily (cough, difficulty breathing)
• Measure your temperature twice a day
• Wash your hands regularly and properly
• Avoid contact with elderly and fragile people

Yes, coronavirus may continue to exist on clothes and it is not advisable to touch the infected person’s clothes without wearing protective gear such as gloves and face mask.

Yes, coronavirus is often transmitted through air particularly when a sick person is sneezing or coughing without covering his or her mouth, which results in a projection of mucus droplets that carry the infection. When inhaled by another adjacent person who is not infected yet, he/she can also get infected with the disease.

There are currently insufficient research data to support this claim, however, this does not mean that getting corona virus once you have sex with someone infected with Coronavirus is impossible.

Asymptomatic transmission refers to transmission of the virus from a person, who does not develop symptoms. Truly asymptomatic, few cases have been reported. This does not, however, rule out the possibility of it occurring.

Scientists say that there is no proper cure for this deadly virus as of today and therefore the antibiotics currently available on the market are of no great use as this can be a pneumonia virus that makes antibiotic treatment ineffective against the virus.

All identified coronaviruses that can infect humans, including Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome and Extreme Acute Respiratory Syndrome and now COVID-19, has no vaccines, but scientists anticipate that a vaccine will soon be available as several successful vaccine trials are underway in many countries, including China, the USA, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and France.

From the time of infection to clinical recovery for mild cases, the typical time for one to recover completely from COVID-19 is about 2 weeks and is 3-6 weeks for patients with a severe or critical illness.

There are two main categories of tests on the coronavirus. These include both the test of the Molecular Coronavirus and the Serological (antibody) test. Both tests work differently and it will depend on what you’re interested to find out to see which test to use. A positive molecular test indicates an active infection with COVID-19 but does not rule out bacterial infections or co-infections with other viruses; although this can only be done to a smaller percentage, making the test highly accurate.

Serological tests rely on antibodies found in a blood sample, typically obtained through a simple finger prick. These tests do not require special equipment to analyze the samples, and they can be used either in laboratories or at the point of treatment. Antibodies are proteins which your body produces when mounting a reaction to virus attack. So, the serological test is intended to find antibodies specifically the Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies which your immune system develops in response.

You should eat vitamin, dietary fibre, protein and antioxidant foods. You also need to drink enough water. Eat fruits such as pineapples, mangoes and bananas. Vegetables, legumes (e.g. lentils, beans), nuts and whole grains (e.g. unprocessed maize, millet, oats, wheat, rice or starchy tubers or roots such as potato, yam, taro or cassava) are also recommended. You can eat animal-sourced foods (e.g. meat, fish, eggs and milk). For snacks, choose raw vegetables and fresh fruit instead of foods that are high in sugar, fat or salt.

By taking the following easy precautions you can reduce the chances of getting infected or spreading COVID-19:

• Clean your hands regularly and thoroughly with alcohol-based hand rub, or wash them with water and soap. This allows you to kill the viruses that are getting into your hands.
• Maintain space between yourself and others of at least 1 meter (3 feet). This may be beneficial as when someone infected with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks he/she releases from the nose or mouth tiny liquid droplets that may contain the virus. If you are too close, you can inhale the droplets and thus become infected with the virus.
• Avoid visiting crowded places. Why? Where people near in crowds, you are more likely to come in close contact with someone who has COIVD-19, so it is not easier to take care of 1 meter (3 feet) of physical distance.
• Do not touch the eyes, nose or mouth. That is because these parts are soft and can quickly be used as a passageway for the virus into your body. The other reason for this is that hands touch many surfaces and could acquire viruses. When infected, the virus can be transmitted to the eyes, nose or mouth by hand.
• Ensure that you and the people around you are following good respiratory hygiene. This can best be seen by covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue once you cough or sneeze. If a tissue has been used, immediately dispose of it and wash your hands to get rid of any viruses that may remain on it.
• Stay home and self-isolate until you recover, even with minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever. Have somebody brought you supplies. To stop infecting others, wear a mask if you wish to leave your home.
• If you have fever, cough, and breathing problems, seek medical attention, but call first, if possible, and follow your local health authority’s instructions. Often this is just because the national and local authorities will have the most up-to-date information about the situation in your area and calling ahead will allow the doctors to quickly direct you to the right medical institution. This can also protect you, and help prevent virus and other infections from spreading.
• Get the latest information from trusted sources, such as the WHO or your local and national health authorities. Why? Local and national authorities are best placed to advise on what people should do to shield themselves in your area.

By following the global Coronavirus map developed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in partnership with the World Health Organization which has regional sectors, you can determine the corona zone you are in.

WHO  and CDC regions with Corona virus include Africa, African territories, Americas which mix all countries in South America, Central America, American territories and countries in North America except the USA, Europe, European territories, Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean territories, South East Asia, Western Pacific, Western Pacific territories. Please visit the CDC global COVID-19 world map to find out more about which countries belong to each of those regions. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/global-covid-19/world-map.html

World Health Organization / WHO Corona statistics

According to figures from the W.H.O, there are more than 6.7 million COVID-19 infections and about 398,000 deaths worldwide as of June 07th 2020. The Americas and Europe have among the biggest illness cases and deaths. You can also check statistics from the WHO corona which are updated regularly. To find more statistics please follow this link.  https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200607-covid-19-sitrep-139.pdf?sfvrsn=79dc6d08_2

A novel coronavirus is a new, previously unrecognized coronavirus. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not the same as coronaviruses that are generally circulating among humans and causing mild illness, such as respiratory disease. And, a diagnosis of coronavirus 229E, NL63, OC43 or HKU1 is not identical to a diagnosis of COVID-19.

Owing to the fact that there are many forms of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses, the WHO had to come up with a name to be used to describe this particular disease because it was a  new virus not seen in humans before. The name of this disease was selected following the World Health Organization (WHO) best practice for the naming of new human infectious diseases.

On 11 February 2020, an official name was announced by the World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 is the current name for this disease, abbreviated as COVID-19. ‘CO’ stands in COVID-19 for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for illness. This disease had formerly been noted as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV.”

Some nations use different data collection and processing approaches from those used by CDC, John Hopkins or the WHO, thereby causing variations in the total case numbers. CDC’s COVID-19 case numbers include many publicly reported numbers including state, local, territorial, foreign, and external partner statistics.

Yes, a person with COVID-19 can spread the disease to others. This is because the Coronavirus can spread easily from one person to another. People with COVID-19 symptoms or those with severe illnesses are considered the most contagious. For this reason, CDC and the W.H.O recommend that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer poses the risk of infecting others. It’s not just the symptomatic people that can infect others, though, but even asymptomatic patients (those that are ill but without having any signs or symptoms of the disease) will transmit the virus without even knowing it.

It is known as quarantine to isolate a person or group of people who have been exposed to the infectious disease but have not acquired an illness (symptoms). This is done to monitor or avoid the future spread of the disease. The quarantine period is determined by considering the incubation period of the communicable disease; or the period during which an exposed individual shows signs and symptoms of the disease.

A person must be quarantined for 14 days in case of Coronavirus disease 2019 / COVID-19. This means, therefore, that when a person is released from COVID-19 quarantine, there is no possibility for that person to spread the infection to others as he/she has not developed the disease during the incubation period.

Current research findings do not show any possibility that novel Coronavirus may be transmitted through food. However, related research is needed.

Coronaviruses are known to have been unable to survive higher temperatures and high humidity while they can survive for longer periods in cooler temperatures. Specifically for COVID-19, there is no conclusive research evidence that high temperatures can kill the virus. Irrespective of temperatures, please follow the CDC and W.H.O guidelines on how to prevent the spread of this disease. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/

Community spread is when people get infected with the virus and it’s no longer possible to trace for contacts since many people will not be sure how or where they became infected.

It’s not really recommended for kids to go and hang out with other kids from other families. This is mostly because the secret to slowing COVID-19 spread is to practice social distance. If it’s completely necessary for these kids to connect outside their own homes with other people, they should endeavour to keep 6 feet from someone who isn’t in their own household.

To help children remain socially connected with their friends while social distancing, help your children have supervised phone calls or video chats with their friends.

While school is out, how can I help my child continue learning?

Here are some of the instructions you should follow to make sure your child stays informed.

• Stay in touch with the school for your child.

Many schools have virtual learning offerings. It’s critical for you to know what the school has to offer for your child in terms of assignments. You will need to help your child set a realistic speed to complete the work. You may also need to help turn on devices, read instructions, and type answers to your child. In case of problems about technology or communication, you should notify the school of the boy.

• Establish a learning schedule and routine at home but remain flexible.

You need to establish a regular bedtime, as we as that for getting up throughout the weekdays, Monday through Friday. Come up with a structured time table for daily activities including learning or completion of school assignments as well as healthy meals and snacks, and physical activity. Allow flexibility in the schedule; it’s okay to adapt based on your day.

• Look for ways to make learning fun

Have hands-on games, such as puzzles, painting, drawing, and creating items that allow the child to be mentally and physically active in carrying out the task. Instead of structured learning, independent play can also be used. Encourage kids to build a sheet fort, or practice counting by stacking blocks.

If you are at a higher risk of becoming very sick due to Coronavirus disease 2019, especially if you are 65 years of age and older, the following guidelines should be implemented to avoid the infection.

• Stock up supplies like foodstuffs, medications, if you need any
• Take daily steps to protect you and others in space
• Stay away from people who are sick when you go out in public
• Avoid close contact and always wash your hands
• Avoid crowds, cruise and non-essential travels
• Seek to stay home as much as possible if there is an outbreak in your neighborhood.
• Check for COVID-19 symptoms and emergency signs.
• Remain home, and call the doctor if you get sick.

No, most people with disabilities are not at higher risk of becoming infected with or having severe illness from COVID-19 unless they have other underlying medical conditions that will make them susceptible to the virus.;

Cleaning with Soap and water eliminates germs, dirt, and surface impurities and decreases the risk of spreading infection. On the other hand, disinfecting refers to the use of stronger detergents that destroy germs at surfaces and this may further minimize the risk of transmitting infection.

Business facilities, hospitals, and homes should do thorough routine cleaning practices to ensure a healthy environment is maintained. While such facilities are in operation, surfaces that are regularly reached by various users, such as door handles, bathroom surfaces and handrails, should be washed at least daily with soap and water or another detergent. Further frequent cleaning and disinfection may be appropriate according to the level of use. For example, certain surfaces and objects in public spaces such as shopping carts and point of sale keypads should be cleaned and disinfected before each use.

Even cleaning alone isn’t an effective way against coronavirus. While cleaning helps eradicate germs, thereby reducing the risk of infection spreading, however, the risk of infection remains. If a surface may have gotten the virus on it from a person with or suspected to have COVID-19, the surface should be cleaned and disinfected immediately.

The virus which causes COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water, as per current research. Conventional methods of treating water using filtration and disinfection, such as those used in most municipal or national drinking water systems are effective in killing or inactivating the COVID-19 virus.

The Coronavirus was found in the faeces of several patients infected with COVID-19. However, it is uncertain if the virus contained in faeces will cause COVID-19 as there has not been any reported case of the virus spreading to a person from faeces.

Coronavirus was discovered in untreated wastewater. Researchers, however, are not sure whether this virus can cause illness if an individual is exposed to untreated wastewater or sewerage systems. The risk of transmission of the virus causing COVID-19 through properly built and maintained sewerage systems is considered very small at this time.

The CDC and the W.H.O. have many recommendations on how to protect yourself and others around you from COVID-19. These include the following

1. Know how the disease is spreading;

• Since no COVID-19 prevention vaccine is currently available, avoiding being exposed to the virus is the easiest way to prevent the disease.
• It is assumed that the virus spread is primarily from person to person, particularly among people in close contact with each other, through respiratory droplets produced when the infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Such droplets may end in the mouths or nose of people in the vicinity or may be inhaled into the lungs. Recent research has shown that COVID-19 is transmitted even among people who do not appear to have symptoms.

2. Everyone Should;

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing during a public place.
• Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.
• Do not touch your nose, your eyes and your mouth with unwashed hands.

3. Avoid close contact

• Avoid close contact with sick people even at home. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
• Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home.
• Recall that certain people may be able to spread virus without symptoms.
• Stay from other persons at least 6 feet (about 2 arms long).
• Stay away from crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.

4. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

• You could have COVID-19 spread to others even if you don’t feel sick.
• Everybody should wear a cloth face mask when, for example, they have to head out to the grocery store or pick up other things in public.
• Tissue face coverings should not be put on small children under the age of 2; anyone has respiratory issues or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• The face cover of your fabric is meant to shield you in case you are sick.
• Do NOT use a health care worker facemask.
• Keep around 6 feet between yourself and others. The cover of the face of the fabric is no replacement for social distancing.

5. Deal with cough and sneezes

• If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw in the trash the tissue used.
• Wash your hands straight away with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you do not readily obtain soap and water, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer which contains at least 60% alcohol.

6. Clean and disinfect

• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are regularly touched every day. Tables, doors, light switches, countertops, handlebars, offices, telephones, toilets, towels, and sinks are included in this.

7. Monitor Your Health

• Alert yourself to symptoms. Watch for fever, coughing, breathlessness or other COVID-19 symptoms.
• It is particularly important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.

The distance between yourself and others must be at least one meter (3 feet). This is because when someone coughs, sneezes or talks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain the virus and if you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person has the disease.

Below are a number of recommended CDC and W.H.O guidelines you should follow in case you become sick or think you are infected with COVID-19 or care for someone who is ill.

• Stay indoors. Many people with COVID-19 have a mild illness, and may recover without medical treatment at home. You should not leave home, except to seek medical treatment. Do not visit public places.
• Guard yourself. Have a rest and keep hydrated. To help you feel better, take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen.
• Stay in touch with your Physician. However, you should call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.
• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
• Set yourself apart from others
• As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other
• Monitor your Coronavirus / COVID-19 symptoms including:-fever, cough, or other symptoms.

You should only seek for emergency medical attention when you exhibit any of these signs for Coronavirus / COVID-19.

• Breathing difficulty
• Lasting pain or pressure inside the chest
• Inability to wake up or stay awake
• Bluish eyes or lips

Note: Please call forward and notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has Coronavirus COVID-19, or may have it.

• Call ahead. Many daily health care appointments are delayed or made by telephone or telemedicine.
• If you have a medical appointment that cannot be postponed, contact the doctor’s office and tell them that you have COVID-19 or maybe have it. This will help protect yourself and other patients at the office.
• Put a cloth covering over your nose and mouth if you are sick.
• If you have to be around other people or animals, like pets (even at home) you should wear a face mask, over your nose and mouth.
• If you’re alone, you don’t have to wear the cloth face cover. If you can’t put on a cloth face covering (because of trouble breathing, for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. This will help protect the people around you.
• Face cover clothes must not be put on young children under 2 years of age, those with difficulty breathing, or someone who cannot remove the cover without assistance.

Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical grade facemasks are reserved for healthcare workers and some first responders. You may need to make a cloth face covering using a scarf or bandana

• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.
• Throw away used tissues in a lined trash can.
• Clean your hands for at least 20 seconds with water and soap. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based manual sanitizer of at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water isn’t available.
• Clean your hands frequently
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.

There is still a lot that is unclear about COVID-19 and how it spreads, except that it is transmitted through droplets from person to person, it is unlikely to spread by domestic or foreign mail, goods or packaging. It should, however, be possible for individuals to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly eyes, but this is often not thought to be the most common way the virus spreads.

Donating blood is life-saving in healthcare settings around the world and a part of caring for patients that is important. The need for donated blood is constant, and blood centers are open, and donations are desperately needed. CDC and W.H.O encourage people who are still well to donate blood if they can, even if they practice social distancing because of COVID-19. CDC supports blood centers by providing recommendations that will safeguard donors and staff. Examples of these recommendations include spacing donor chairs 6 feet apart, adhering thoroughly to cleaning practices in the environment and inspiring donors to make donation appointments earlier than time.

Stigma occurs when people negatively associate a communicable disease, like COVID-19, with a particular population. Sadly, it is true that a lot of those who have suffered from COVID-19 but have recovered from it have suffered a certain degree of stigma when they are released back into their communities since some people will still associate them with the disease regardless of the fact that by the time they’re released from hospitals, they have completely healed from the disease and pose no risk of infecting any person in society.

Flattening the curve means slowing the rate of new infections at any given time. This essentially allows healthcare services to better manage the same volume of patients without ever straining the health care system.

Based on available data, the risk of contracting Coronavirus is not higher for children than for adults. It must be noted, however, that COVID-19 children and babies have been registered, but to date, most adults have been documented.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 symptoms are similar in infants and adults. Kids with confirmed Coronavirus, however, have generally had mild symptoms. Reported symptoms in children include cold-like symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and cough. There were also cases of vomiting and diarrhea. It is certainly not yet known that some children, particularly those with underlying medical conditions and special healthcare needs, are also at higher risk for serious illness.

The transmission of the COVID-19 virus through breast milk and breastfeeding has not been detected. While breastfeeding, a mother should still implement appropriate hygiene measures, including wearing a medical mask if available, to scale back the likelihood of droplets with COVID-19 being spread to her infant.

Regardless of the danger of suffocation, cloth face covers should not be placed on babies or children under 2 years. Children under the age of 2 are classified as an exception as well as anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.

Using face masks is a measure of public health to reduce the spread of COVID-19, where social separation, the daily washing of hands and preventive actions on a daily basis are not possible. In the event that the wearer is positive for COVID-19, wearing a face mask is designed to prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to another. It would be particularly very relevant if someone were infected but had no symptoms. As suggested in existing CDC guidelines, medical face masks and N95 respirators are reserved only for health care workers and other first responders.

If you want to speak to your kids about the outbreak you need to be cool, and reassure them that they are safe. If possible, demonstrate to them that most COVID-19 illness tends to be mild and they shouldn’t stress too much but they need to be careful not to get sick. Children react to stressful circumstances differently than adults do.

The Coronavirus doesn’t appear to pose a specific threat to expectant mothers, according to what is currently understood. Hence, pregnant women are not entitled to additional preventive measures other than those usually prescribed during their pregnancy.

We don’t know for sure which animals can or cannot get infected with the COVID-19 virus. However, a limited number of animals, including dogs, cats, lions and tigers, have been confirmed to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, often after close contact with people with COVID-19, are known to the W.H.O and CDC.

Also, evidence recently revealed that ferrets, cats, and golden Syrian hamsters can be experimentally infected with the virus and can spread the infection to other animals of the same species in laboratory settings.

Right now, the safety of your pet is not a priority because there are only a few positive test cases for COVID-19 in animals.

As of today, no scientific results have been found to support this assertion of animal skins possessing the virus that causes COVID-19. However, it is always good to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals, also washing hands before and after interactions, because animals can sometimes carry other germs that can make people ill.

Yes, during this pandemic you should walk your dog because it is vital for animal and human to be health. Keep it on a leash while you walk your dog and try to stay at least 6 feet (2 metres) away from others as much as possible. Do not let other people pet your dog while you’re out for a stroll, to help maintain social space.

When your pet is ill and you have reason to suspect that it may have contracted COVID-19, you need to speak to your doctor about any health concerns you may have about your pet. You should not, however, take your pet to the veterinary doctors but call them first and let them know the pet was around a COVID-19 victim. Some veterinarians may give consultations on telemedicine, or other plans to see sick pets. Your veterinarian will assess your pet and decide next steps to treat and care for your pet.

It is in very rare cases that animals are tested. At this time, systematic animal testing is not required, so any animal testing is performed on a case-by-case basis. For example, if a COVID-19 patient’s pet has a new disease with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, the veterinarian of the animal may consult with officials of public health and animal health to determine if testing is necessary.