Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli on Sunday said he was ready to open schools, sports leagues and airlines as the country continues to fight coronavirus.

Speaking at a church function in Geita, Chato, Dr Magufuli said Covid-19 cases in the East African nation had declined and there was no point of continuing with the restrictions.

Dr Magufuli said he had allowed airlines to start their operations in Tanzania, some of which had been fully booked up to August.

On Saturday, President Uhuru Kenyatta closed Kenya’s borders with Tanzania and Somalia to all automobiles, except trucks ferrying goods, when it became evident that truck drivers from Tanzania were bringing the disease into Kenya.

Dr Magufuli, however, directed Tanzanians to follow set guidelines in combating the disease, despite the fact that no one was wearing a mask in the congregation he was addressing and there was no social distancing.