Today, March 22, 2020, the President of Tanzania, His Excellency John Magufuli announced the confirmation of new cases of the Coronavirus in Tanzania bring the national total to 12. This includes eight Tanzanians and four foreign nationals who are all under medical care. He also announced additional preventative measures effective today that all visitors and Tanzanians arriving from high-risk countries will be quarantined for 14 days.
In order to curb the transmission of the virus, the World Health Organization recommends practicing social distancing. This means one should stay at home, avoid large crowds, and refrain from shaking hands and hugging others. This best practice reduces the spread of the virus from person to person.
What can you do?
If you are sick, stay away from others – that is the most important thing you can do. You should also practice good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the washroom
- Cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and
- If unwell, avoid contact with others (stay more than 1.8 meters from people).
These simple, common sense actions help reduce risk to you and to others. They will help to slow the spread of disease in the community – and you can use them every day – in your home workplace, and while out in public.
Social distancing at home
To reduce the spread of germs:
- Practice good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene
- Avoid handshaking and hugging
- Regularly disinfect high touch surfaces, such as tables, kitchen benches and doorknobs
- Increase ventilation in the home by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning
- Visit shops sparingly
- Consider whether outings and travel, both individual and family, are sensible and necessary
Social distancing in the workplace
To reduce the spread of germs in the workplace:
- Stay at home if you are sick
- Stop handshaking as a greeting
- Hold meetings via video conferencing or phone call; Defer large meetings
- Hold essential meetings outside in the open air, if possible
- Promote good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene and provide hand sanitizers for all staff and workers
- Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly
- Consider opening windows and adjusting air conditioning for more ventilation
- Limit food handling and sharing of food in the workplace
- Reconsider non-essential business travel
- Promote strictest hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts
- Consider if large gatherings can be rescheduled, staggered or cancelled
For additional information on prevention practices, follow The Ismaili Tanzania Facebook page and The Ismaili Instagram page.