Geting a Covid test in Tanzania: A how-to guide

Scheduling my test
Pimacovid.go.tz. This site will allow you to book a test anywhere that it is available in the country. Every major city in TZ appears to be listed. There are several sites in Dar and Zanzibar. You need to enter your passport number to start. This will be required at each step. I booked my test for the day of my choice (Friday following the Tuesday I made the booking). There was no ability to select a time and my email confirmation included only the date of my test.

Taking the sample
Arusha Lutheran Hospital, a private hospital over a closer public one on advice of a local. There were no lines when I arrived at around 8:30am on January 29. From the reception desk, I was directed to a women who gave me a number on a piece of card board. I was directed to another desk section and there filed a registration card with my service number (which I saved). I was asked to pay at the cashier (50000 shillings on a credit card, $30 US). eI returned to the desk and was shortly as escorted back to an office. I waited about 30 minutes while the team finished a meeting. The tall well-dress Jefrey, who seemed to be in charge, took by sample. The extraction was from a deep nasal intrusion but it was not as uncomfortable as i had expected. Jefrey asked me if I had either a local SIM or Whats App and he asked me for my passport. I did not bring my passport and he told me a photo would do. (Maybe he only needed the number or some identification. Bring your passport to your test is the lesson. After spending a little time on this computer, he sent me the government control number courtesy of his WhatsApp. Jefrey really made me confident about the test — especially when he said I should be in touch with him on Sunday night if I did not get my results.

Cost
With the government control number I was able to pay the 230,000 shillings for the test ($100 US). This fee was due to the government. The fee that I paid at the cashier window was due to Arusha Lutheran for collecting the sample. You might want to ask about the sample collection fee\ at the site that you chose. This fee had to be u003cstrongu003epaid in cash at an NMB Bank or at one of their agency offices. I found my agent at a toy store. He was very friendly.

Results
I did not receive my results on Sunday so at around 8pm I contacted Jefrey. He replied soon afterwards and mentioned there he was confident I would get them early on Monday. At 7:17am about 70 hours (over a weekend), I received an email from covid19certificate@afya.go.tz (in Swahili) with a link to my results. Negative.

I recommend printing out your letter. This may even be required. At JRO someone initialed mine and I was asked to produce my letter at Uganda customs ($60 for a visa on arrival. Cash only.) I was escorted to the non-secured part of the airport to access an ATM. I am not sure if I would have been given that courtesy if it was a busier day.
https://pimacovid.moh.go.tz website also has my test results, accessible by entering my passport number. That is handy in case you lose yours. I expect the letter might disappear online after this 14 day validity period. I hope your experience of Covid testing in Tanzania is as successful as mine. Your comments are welcomed.

• Covid