DAR ES SALAAM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in Zanzibar have barred Italian tourists from visiting the island following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy.

Hamad Rashid, Zanzibar's Minister for Health, said in a statement on Friday evening that the move to bar Italian tourists from visiting Zanzibar was aimed at controlling the outbreak of the deadly virus.

Rashid urged residents in Zanzibar to take precautionary measures, including stopping traveling to countries that have been affected by the virus.

The official warned people who were spreading rumors about the outbreak of the virus in Zanzibar, saying there is no outbreak of the virus in Zanzibar but people should continue taking precautionary measures.

Rashid said the government has reinforced screening at Zanzibar's ports of entry, including ports and airports.

According to the latest update by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease have been reported globally.

Zanzibar is a paradise for tourists with sandy beaches and clear Indian Ocean water, as well as coral and limestone scarps which allow for significant amounts of diving and snorkeling.

Tourist arrivals in Zanzibar increased by 3.4 percent from the 520,809 visitors recorded in 2018 to 538,264 in 2019.