The Tanzanian government on Thursday announced a ban on all unnecessary gatherings due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, reported CGTN Africa.
In a statement, Tanzanian Health Minister, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, said that the decision has been taken to further curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“Effective July 22 all unnecessary gatherings have been banned. As for those that are necessary, sufficient cautionary measures should be taken against COVID-19, without affecting national activities as well as the economy,” the Tanzanian minister noted in the statement.
Gwajima informed that the country had recorded a total of 682 COVID-19 cases as of July 21. She further called on Tanzanians to prepare to get the COVID-19 vaccine, reiterating that the jabs will be voluntary and free of charge.
“Tanzania is in the process of controlling the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, since the first case in March 2020, I call on all citizens to prepare for vaccination.” Dr. Dorothy said.
The Tanzanian health minister said that more information on arrangements through which people will have access to the vaccines will be provided in the coming days.
Notably, Tanzania, Eritrea, and Burundi are the three countries on the African continent that are yet to launch a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The delay in response to the coronavirus pandemic can be attributed to former President John Magufuli whose government had spread misinformation about COVID-19 and refused to release data on case count since May last year.
After Magafuli’s sudden demise in March, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan tweaked the government’s pandemic management plan and joined COVAX to get free vaccine doses for the people. The country expects to receive 360,000 doses of the J&J vaccine this month.
21 African countries are currently experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
