SA minister warns over coronavirus and 5G link claims

South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has warned against a conspiracy theory that links coronavirus to 5G technology.

Dr Mkhize in a tweet said: “5G is a technology issue and Covid is a virus. You cannot link the virus to technology.”

Claims that 5G technology could be linked to the spread of the coronavirus have been spreading online for weeks.

They got more traction last month after popular American singer and songwriter Keri Hilson shared the claims with her 4.2m Twitter followers and on Instagram - although she later deleted the posts.

An American medical doctor Thomas Cowan - speaking in Tuscon, Arizona in March - also advanced the conspiracy theory, in a video that has been viewed thousands of times on YouTube.

But to date, there has been no scientific connection between the spread of the virus and the 5G technology.

The South African health minister said people need to use facts to fight coronavirus.

“We have tracked the virus from animals to human beings. Let’s tell the truth. We can prevent the spread,” Dr Mkhize says.

Watch out for fake news- 5G & coronavirus: 5G is a technology issue and Covid is a virus. You cannot link the virus to technology.

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) March 31, 2020

Just got an audio, which suggests a linkage of Corona Virus-19 to 5G radiation on human cells. Audio suggests that areas hard hit by virus, are where 5G networks are on trial, Wuhan, Italy, Spain etc. @Potraz_zw needs to seek further clarifications from @GSMA & @WHO @MoHCCZim pic.twitter.com/eU8encrTl0

— Reward Kangai (@RewardKangai) March 28, 2020

Management has asked me to delete vid/articles. ??????????? I appreciate good discourse on unconventional thinking. Let’s all just be safe out there, cuz whatever the cause the virus a real thing. May God be with us...prayers to alllllll ????????

— Keri Hilson (@KeriHilson) March 16, 2020