The government of Tanzania has announced new measures to control the spread of coronavirus, a move from the approach of former president John Magufuli.
The health ministry on Monday said travellers entering Tanzania must show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken prior 72 hours to arrival
The ministry added that passengers arriving from countries with a high number of coronavirus infections will also need to pay for an additional rapid test, though it was not specified how this criterion would be determined.
In addition, those who have visited a country with “new Covid-19 variants” in the previous two weeks will be required to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own expense.
The ministry noted that Tanzanian Citizens can isolate at home, while foreigners will need to choose a government facility to isolate.
Tanzania’s chief medical officer Abel Makubi said in the statement that “Based on the global epidemiological situation and emergence of new variants of viruses that cause COVID-19, there is an increased risk of their importation into our country,”
The restrictions come nearly two months after Samia Suluhu Hassan became president following the death of Magufuli, who spent the better part of the pandemic playing down the virus, shunning masks and citing prayer for warding off disease.
