Tanzanian government on Monday announced a slew of new COVID-19 containment measures that are expected to prevent the importation of new coronavirus variants in the country, reported CGTN Africa.
In a statement, the Tanzanian Health Permanent Secretary Prof. Abel Makubi said as part of the new anti-coronavirus measures, all travelers, whether foreigners or returning residents will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test certificate upon arrival.
All Tanzanian residents or foreigners arriving from countries with new COVID-19 variants as per WHO daily updates shall be subjected to rapid test at the point of entry followed by 14 days mandatory quarantine at their own cost. The list also includes those who have traveled through those countries in the last 14 days.
For mandatory quarantine, the travelers will be allowed to choose a place from the list designated by the Tanzanian government. Returning residents will be allowed to isolate themselves in their homes.
Travelers currently in transit to other countries for more than 72 hours will be required to be getting themselves retested upon arrival in Tanzania.
Trucks/vehicles crew members have also been asked to have only 2-3 people per vehicle to facilitate smooth border crossing in the region. If in case the driver or any crew member is suspected to have COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 then the vehicle will be completely decontaminated before it is allowed to continue to its final destination.
Driver or crew members will have to undergo screening at points of entry and may be quarantined or isolated at designated facilities at their own cost in case they are suspected of COVID-19 infection. Those with negative COVID-19 results may randomly be selected for re-testing upon arrival for quality assurance.
Last month, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the formation of a COVID-19 committee that would counsel her on measures to take as a country to protect the country against the coronavirus pandemic.
