Somalis urged to pray from homes instead of mosques

The government of Somalia has ordered the closure of all religious schools or madrassas in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus.

It has urged people to pray from home for the next two weeks instead of going to the mosque.

Although there have only been three confirmed coronavirus cases in Somalia, the fear is the country will not be able to cope if it spreads.

Health facilities have been devastated by 30 years of war and millions of displaced people live in overcrowded camps.

The Islamist group al-Shabaab, which controls much of southern and central Somalia, says the only people who can catch Covid-19 are those it describes as "infidels", such as people who work for the government or international organisations.