On Tuesday 31 March 2020 Tanzania recorded its first COVID-19 death of a 49-year-old Tanzanian man, which happened in the nation’s commercial city, Dar es Salaam.
According to information from the Ministry of Health, the deceased man was also suffering from other health complications apart from the pandemic.
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Tanzania which has 19 cases of the coronavirus, is taking various measures in containing the coronavirus.
“As of today, March 31, 2020, we have confirmed a total of 19 COVID-19 cases whereby out of the number, one has died and one has been treated and discharged from the hospital,” Minister of Health, Ummy Mwalimu said in a statement on Tuesday.
The pandemic has already hurt various crucial economic operations in Tanzania, including hotels, aviation and tourism activities.
On the meanwhile, the Tanzanian government is containing the outbreak rather different than its counterparts Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda (with mandatory curfews), as the nation of more than 55 people, is still operating under heavy hygiene and COVID-19 precaution scrutiny.
Currently, the nation’s parliamentary budget sessions have begun today with a new modus operandi to avoid spreading of coronavirus, limiting members of the parliament (MP) to 150 in the building, while the rest will catch up via video conferencing.
Also, working hours have been reduced from nine to four hours while the House promised to fully go digital by providing no document in print.
The National Assembly has 393 members but at some points, the House could accommodate about 700 people including the MPs, visitors, journalists, staff and government experts representing various departments.
In addition, various entities and individuals have supported the Tanzanian government efforts in fighting the pandemic by providing contributions amounting to over $ 500,000.
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