Africa-Press – Tanzania. MARINE Service Company Limited has imposed mandatory mask wearing requirement to all passengers using its vessels in efforts to supplement government efforts to prevent further spread of Covid-19.
According to the company, passengers will not be allowed to access the services without wearing face mask. The company’s Marketing and Commercial Manager, Mr Anselm Namala told the ‘Daily News’ yesterday that coronavirus prevention has become part of the MSCL priorities, with education being given to passengers before boarding the vessel.
“We are responsible for passengers’ safety and health by ensuring that they are prevented from Covid-19 infections,” said Mr Namala, adding that “ all necessary precautionary measures are being observed from the main gate where passengers are required to wash their hands and check body temperature before boarding the vessels,” he said.
The Daily News conducted a spot-check to establish if passengers who were on their way to board New MV Victoria responded to the safety and health requirements where it was noted that some of them were wearing face mask while others failed to do so due to health complications. One of the passengers, Mr Erick Paul commended efforts taken by the company although he was not wearing a face mask due to health complications.
Buchosa District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Maria Kapinga commented that some people have been claiming to experience difficult breathing because they do not like to cultivate the culture of wearing face masks. She advised members of the public to make it a routine, just like health services providers who spend hours in surgery rooms with mask on all the time.
“Sometimes we spend the whole day in labour rooms wearing face masks and nothing goes wrong when breathing. Let people be committed on this matter so as to simplify Covid-19 fight,” she advised.
The District Executive Director (DED), Mr Lutengano Mwalwiba, said that face mask wearing is mandatory as it is the duty of everybody to protect him/herself and others. Mandatory face mask wearing in Magu his being simultaneously enforced with public awareness campaigns about Covid -19 impact at individual and national level.
“There are special committees formed to deal with Covid -19 issues, including visiting all areas that attract crowds to remind people to wear face masks, observe social distance and wash hands,” he said.
