DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian health authorities have issued an alert saying they are monitoring the reported new COVID-19 variant called Omicron that has already been identified in some African and European countries, a senior official said in a statement on Saturday night.
At the same time, Aiffelo Sichalwe, Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, urged people to be vigilant over the imminent fourth wave of the virus pandemic.
He said authorities were monitoring about the new variant and they were taking measures aimed at preventing the fourth wave and the Omicron variant from getting into the country, including reinforcing tests at airports, ports and borders.
The Omicron variant, which scientists say has a high number of mutations, was first detected in South Africa last week. Cases have also been reported in travelers in Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong.
Sichalwe said in the statement that new infections of the pandemic caused by the fourth wave and the reported new variant have started to rise in some countries.
He said on Friday the World Health Organization (WHO) reported about the Omicron variant explaining that it spreads very fast.
Sichalwe reminded Tanzanians to continue observing COVID-19 precautions as directed by health authorities, including wearing face masks, washing hands with running water and soap and avoiding unnecessary gatherings. Enditem
