A group of people who have claimed they are refusing to take any of the COVID-19 vaccines – at a time when the number of cases around the world is at an all-time high – are reportedly looking for a cryptocurrency expert, who joins them in Africa.
According to a Friday report by Vice, the group is anti-vaccination building a “community” off the coast of Southeast Africa and plans to hire private chefs, TV presenters and crypto experts. The company behind the group, Liberty Places, is a self-proclaimed real estate company based in the Zanzibar archipelago. It has previously posted on social media regarding this plans “Latest technologies from blockchain to solar energy” to use additionally criticize the use of masks in the fight against the pandemic.
Despite our view this morning; Knowing that testing, masks, lockdowns and social distancing are now a structural norm in Europe and will return every year of your life is reason enough to plan an exit! pic.twitter.com/aino9GsoUD
— Liberty Places Ltd (@liberty_places) January 16, 2022
Vice reported that the group praised Zanzibar for not “enforcing mask requirements, social distancing measures or lockdowns, and not mandating mandatory vaccinations” and describing the island as “free from bureaucratic interference.” The comments come at a time when the 7-day moving average is new cases of COVID-19 is more than 3 million, and many public health officials and lawmakers continue to urge the use of social distancing, the wearing of masks, and immunization and booster when possible.
Many countries around the world are still closed to short-term visitors, others don’t require a combination of proof of vaccination, quarantine in a hotel and a negative COVID-19 test. For visitors from the United States, Tanzania stands out as a country that only allows tourists with a negative test – with no mandatory quarantine or vaccination requirements. There is conflicting data on the number of new cases in the country, but Zanzibar’s limited size makes it unlikely it can accommodate millions of anti-vaccination people, so locals concerned about the virus could still be practicing social distancing.
Related: Tanzania’s Zanzibar is reportedly exploring crypto adoption opportunities
Tanzania’s central bank banned crypto in November 2019, but it was reportedly considering overturning its decision following comments from President Samia Suluhu Hassan in June asks the central bank to prepare for bitcoin (Bitcoin) and digital assets. The country is said to be too plans to introduce a digital shilling after neighboring countries announced initiatives to research CBDCs.
Cointelegraph reached out to Liberty Places but received no response at the time of publication.
