Tanzania’s health ministry has denied claims being circulated on social media that hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mabula Mchembe, said the public should not spread fear among people.
The government has repeatedly been accused of playing down the threat posed by Covid-19.
Prof Mchembe said that he had visited Mloganzila and Muhimbilia – two major hospitals in the main city Dar es Salaam – and was “satisfied that not everyone admitted here is suffering from Covid-19 as said by social media”.
His comments came a few days after Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima showed journalists how to make a concoction from onions, ginger, lemons and green peppers, and encouraged the public to take it as precautionary measure. END
