Zambia shuts border with Tanzania to curb COVID-19

ANKARA (AA) – Zambia on Monday closed its joint border with neighboring Tanzania after experiencing the highest spike of coronavirus infections last week, local media reported.

“No traffic will be allowed in or out of the district," the Tanzania-based The Citizen daily quoted Zambia’s Health Minister Ghitalu Chilufya as saying, referring to the closure of Nakonde border.

The minister, however, did not specify the duration of the border shut down.

Last Saturday, Zambia recorded as many as 85 COVID-19 cases, 76 of which were recorded in Nakonde.

Some 267 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the African country thus far, along with seven virus-linked deaths and 117 recoveries, according to figures by John Hopkins University.

In Tanzania, meanwhile, 506 cases have been registered with 21 deaths and 183 people having regained health.

After originating in Wuhan, China late last year, the virus has infected over 4.11 million people in 187 countries and regions.

Governments around the world are now easing lockdowns, hoping that it does not lead to a second wave of contagion. The struggle to balance between saving lives and salvaging jobs continues.