DAR ES SALAAM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibar authorities on Wednesday announced a ban on public gatherings and the shutting down of all schools for an indefinite period following confirmation of the first COVID-19 case on the Indian Ocean Islands, visited by tourists from across the world.
Hamad Rashid, Zanzibar's Minister for Health, told a news conference that the ban on public gatherings and closure of the schools from primary to tertiary institutions was aimed at containing the spread of the deadly virus in the semi-autonomous archipelago.
The confirmed COVID-19 positive case on the Islands was a 24-year-old German male.
Rashid said the ban on public gatherings involved meetings, workshops, seminars, sports and entertainment events.
"Funeral ceremonies will be limited to few people until the time when the virus will be contained," he said, adding that people arriving from abroad, especially from countries affected by the virus, will be quarantined for not less than 14 days.
Rashid said the Zanzibar authorities also banned overseas travel for public officials and urged people to avoid all non-essential travel.
The official called for heightened vigilance from all residents in Zanzibar by continuing to observe the instructions of health authorities, particularly washing hands regularly, avoiding large gatherings, and limiting unnecessary movements.
The Islands of Zanzibar were merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Enditem
