Tanzania's President John Magufuli says his country is now "coronavirus-free" thanks to prayers by citizens. "The c...
Tanzania's President John Magufuli says his country is now "coronavirus-free"
thanks to prayers by citizens.
"The corona disease has been eliminated thanks to
God," Magufuli is quoted by the BBC as telling worshippers in a church in the capital, Dodoma.
Last month, Tanzania's government dismissed a US embassy
warning that hospitals in Dar es Salaam were "overwhelmed" and that
the chances of contracting the virus was "extremely high".
Magufuli has
repeatedly said the health crisis has been exaggerated and urged people to
attend services in churches and mosques, saying that prayers "can
vanquish" the virus.
"I want to thank Tanzanians of all faiths. We have
been praying and fasting for God to save us from the pandemic that has
afflicted our country and the world. But God has answered us.
"I believe, and I'm certain that many Tanzanians
believe, that the corona disease has been eliminated by God. The health minister told me that we only have four
patients in Dar es Salaam but this will not stop rumours to the contrary,"
he said.
"We need to be careful because some of these donations
to fight coronavirus could be used to transmit the virus.
"I want to urge you Tanzanians not to accept donations
of masks, instead tell the donors to go and use them with their wives and
children," he said.
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