COVID-19: WHO Rejects Tanzania's Defective Test Kits Claim

Claims by the President of Tanzania, John Magufuli, that tests carried out in his country for coronavirus had been faulty have been repudiated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO Africa director, Matshidiso Moeti, made this known during a media chat.

Moeti said, “We are convinced that the tests … are not contaminated with the virus.

“We are not in agreement with (Magufuli’s) point of view."

Magufuli, on Sunday, had claimed that the test kits received by Tanzania had been defective, and had produced positive results when blood samples from a goat had been used, and when a papaw fruit was tested and it also came out positive.

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According to the Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, Dr. John Nkengasong, the test kits Tanzania used were supplied by Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma, in conjuction with the Africa CDC.

Maintaining that the test kits were faulty, John said, “Tanzania is using the same test that everyone is using."

The faulty test results had caused Tanzania to suspend its director and quality control manager of its national laboratory following an investigation into the matter.

Tanzania's response to the outbreak had received a backlash, as the country hardly observed the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.

Magufuli claimed that herbal baths and prayers could stop an infection, leading to the country allow worship places to remain open.