Tanzania(SONNA)-The president of Tanzania has urged its citizens to take preventive measures against the coronavirus after downplaying the disease for months and claiming it had been defeated by prayers.
Speaking during a Sunday church mass in the capital Dodoma, President John Magufuli urged citizens of the East African country to take precautions and wear face masks – but only locally made ones.
Over the course of the pandemic, Magufuli has expressed wariness about foreign-made goods, including COVID vaccines.
The president’s comments came a day after the World Health Organization’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged Tanzania to take “robust action” to tackle the outbreak in the country as “the situation remains very concerning”.
The call for action came after a number of Tanzanians travelling to neighbouring countries and beyond tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a statement issued by the WHO.
Others recently expressing concern include the United States .
