After Tanzanian President John Magufuli declared the country free from Covid-19, the government has now issued new guidelines for obtaining coronavirus clearance certificates.

The certificates will be available to both citizens and foreigners living in the country who plan to travel to countries where the documents are required.

According to a statement issued by Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu, the fee for screening is Tsh40,000 (about $17.26) for Tanzanians, Tsh60,000 (about $25.90) for foreigners who are residents and $100 for visitors in the country.

In a statement released to the media, she said that travelers who have a Covid-19 clearance certificate will only be seen to be legal after it is stamped and verified electronically.

“The procedure for obtaining the certificate is clear, the screening results will be taken to the regional chief medical office and issued within 72 hours for those who don’t have the infection and their names sent to the borders for verification,” she said.

The tests can only be obtained at the regional hospitals and not otherwise.

The regional chief chemist’s office will supervise the screening at the national laboratory and the traveler will be informed on the need to test five days before day of travel because the certificate is only valid for only 14 days in most of countries.

PRAYERS

President Magufuli said the country was coronavirus-free thanks to prayers.

“We decided to pray to God to save us from the coronavirus. God has answered our prayers,” he said at State House in Dodoma.

“Tanzania is safe and this is evident by the many airlines that are bringing tourists,” he added.

He asked every local leader to use his or her capacity to be an ambassador to the rest of the world.

“Our enemies will speak a lot, but the reality remains that Tanzania is safe and that is why none of us here is putting on a mask. Does it mean we are not afraid of dying? No, it is because corona has been eliminated.”

Source: EastAfricanews