Tanzania makes COVID-19 U-turn but secrecy persists

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 statistics in Tanzania have remained a top secret since last May when 509 cases and 21 related deaths were reported in the World Health Organization’s situational update on the disease. The Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children neither declined nor confirmed when asked about the release of data but emphasised that it is now advocating precautions such as wearing face masks, avoiding crowds and hand hygiene. Gerard Chami, head of government communications at the ‎health ministry, replied in a text message to SciDev.Net “Are the data [protecting] our citizens?” This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.