This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On April 29, the Tanzanian government abruptly stopped releasing official data on COVID-19 cases, leaving the public in the dark about the true extent of the pandemic.
According to a health alert issued by the US Embassy in Tanzania, the country's hospitals are severely overwhelmed, with many in Dar es Salaam facing life-threatening delays in medical care, including for those with COVID-19.
"The risk of contracting COVID-19 in Dar es Salaam is extremely high," the embassy warned, citing evidence of exponential growth of the epidemic in the city and other locations in Tanzania.
"Limited hospital capacity throughout Tanzania could result in life-threatening delays for medical care, including for those with COVID-19," the embassy added.
Furthermore, the embassy noted that the Tanzanian government has suspended all international commercial flights, leaving US citizens stranded in the country with limited options for repatriation.
"U.S. citizens who remain in Tanzania should be prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period," the embassy warned, adding that the US government does not anticipate arranging additional repatriation flights at this time.
