The cumulative total of reported cases was 46 on 13th April with 3 deaths. The majority of cases are in the largest city, and commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. One case has been reported in Mwanza. Seemingly, a man was quarantined in Dar but left and travelled to the Rock City. One private hospital has now been sealed off and it is assumed that is where he now is.
As with UK, the number of reported Tanzanian cases will be an underestimate through a low level of testing. The worry remains that the virus will spread rapidly. The government has upped its response by closing airports to international flights, as of 12th April. Schools and colleges are closed and large gatherings banned. Social distancing should be practised and overcrowding on buses stopped. Controversially, services at churches and mosques are still allowed. President Magafuli said that the virus is the work of satan and requires divine intervention to be quelled.
In a broader context, there are worries that if a lockdown is introduced there will be a danger of starvation as many people live from day to day, working and buying food. No danger of stockpiling. Also, the government is in no economic position to underwrite business costs (or vastly expand health services). The dilemma of protecting the population from Corona but at the same time damaging people and the economy in other ways is most apparent. It remains to be seen if any lockdown would be obeyed or could be enforced. The hope is that the virus doesn’t spread so rapidly for reasons particular to the Tanzanian population and environment.