Tanzanian president urges citizens to be on high alert over COVID-19 pandemic

Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Friday urged his fellow citizens to be on high alert over the COVID-19 outbreak after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a pandemic.

Magufuli said although Tanzania has not yet been affected by the virus that has spread in many countries across the world, Tanzanians and other people living in the East African nation should not relax.

"The COVID-19 virus is highly deadly. We should be on full alert and follow directions given by the Ministry of Health," he said when he launched a workshop for the Tanzania People's Defense Forces.

In an address televised live by state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, Magufuli urged people to put off unnecessary trips overseas until the situation was contained.

"I have instructed the chief permanent secretary at State House to suspend issuing travel permits for public officials unless there is proven need for one to travel abroad," he said at the TPDF's Lugalo military barracks in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

The head of state issued the alert as neighboring Kenya on Friday confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the capital Nairobi.