Tanzania’s COVID-19 cases rise to 480

Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Wednesday 196 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the country from April 23 to April 28, bringing the total number of cases  to 480.
   

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office in the capital Dodoma, Majaliwa said out of the 196 new cases, 174 were recorded in mainland Tanzania and 22 in Zanzibar.
   

The statement said Majaliwa revealed an update of the COVID-19 patients shortly before he had handed over 10 ambulances to be used by Members of Parliament in their constituencies as part of government efforts to improve health services.
   

Majaliwa said out of the 480 patients, 16 have died and 167 have recovered since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the east African nation on March 16.
   

He urged people to ignore those who were spreading false information on the number of people killed by the viral disease, saying such information was intended to create panic among the public.
   

"Not every person that died was killed by COVID-19. Disease such as malaria, high blood pressure and diabetes are also killing people," said Majaliwa.
   

He also urged people to continue observing preventive and protective guidelines against the disease given by health authorities and other relevant institutions.
   

On April 22, Tanzanian President John Magufuli ruled out a lockdown of business capital Dar es Salaam amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the move was aimed at saving people from difficulties and saving the country from an economic meltdown.
   

A statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House said Magufuli made the remarks when he addressed heads of defense and security organs over the COVID-19 crisis from his native home of Chato in Geita region.
   

He urged the heads of defense and security organs to take punitive actions against the people, including politicians, who were spreading false information on COVID-19.  (Xinhua)