DODOMA 13 May (ANA) - The US embassy in Tanzania has warned that there is a risk of "exponential growth" of Covid-19 cases in the country at a time when the government is not releasing data on new cases. 

It added that the risk of contracting the virus in the largest city, Dar es Salaam, was "extremely high."

President John Magufuli has accused local health officials of exaggerating the health crisis. 

On 29 April, the last day official data was released, there were 509 cases. 

Of these, 21 people died.

While Tanzanian authorities have downplayed the extent of the pandemic, videos of night burials shared on social media have caused some to call into question the government's approach.

President Magufuli has been widely criticised for refusing to order churches and mosques to close and for saying prayers "can vanquish" the virus. 

Last week, President Magufuli revealed that he secretly had animals and fruits samples tested at the national health laboratory in charge of coronavirus and that a papaya (paw-paw), a quail bird, and a goat had returned positive results.

He later closed the laboratory and suspended the head.(ANA)

FA/ANA/13 May 2020-----