Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government is closely following up trend of new Covid-19 pandemic variant, while doing thorough assessment on measures to take to control and prevent the fourth wave from causing havoc.
The new variant, known as the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on 24 November 2021.
In recent weeks, infections have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection of B.1.1.529 variant. The first known confirmed omicron infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November 2021.
According to the WHO, the new virus is said to be stronger with high capacity of spreading fast.
Upon realising this, the Government Chief Medical Officer Dr Aifello Sichalwe said the government insists on the public continuing taking preventive measures as advised by health experts.
“The ministry emphasizes on continuing taking preventive measures in order to protect ourselves from this fourth wave threat of the Covid-19,” Dr Sichalwe asked the Tanzanians.
The Chief Medical Officer reminded the members of the public of measures to take mainly to get vaccination which is offered freely at the health centres countrywide.
The vaccines have proven to have great efficiency against the Covid-19 pandemic, he assured in a statement issued to the public on Saturday evening.
Other measures emphasized are to continue putting on face mask, hand washing, using sanitisers, doing exercises and using herbals that are recommended by experts.
Dr Sichalwe also urged members of the public to avoid unnecessary gatherings as he reminded institutions to observe Covid-protocols at workplaces.
The ministry went on calling for strengthened Covid-19 testing of travellers at airports, ports and borders.
However, the ministry urged the citizens to continue conducting production activities while observing the preventive measures.
Separately, when speaking during virtual media training on Covid-19 vaccines in the country, Government’s Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa said Tanzania has not recorded any case of new variant, noting that more information would be provided by health experts.
Mr Msigwa called upon the local media to play a role of providing right information over the vaccines in order to clear the myths circulated on social media either unintentionally or intentionally by scrupulous individuals.
The virtual media training, held on Saturday, was organised by the Amref Health Africa Tanzania.
According to the WHO, the new variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.
Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs. The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa.
The variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage.
There are a number of studies underway and the Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) that will continue to evaluate this variant.
WHO said it will communicate new findings with Member States and to the public as needed.
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