TheCable

One hundred and nine people  in the Dominican Republic have died after drinking a liquor believed to prevent COVID-19.

According to AS, a Spanish publication, the liquor called clerén originates from Haiti, a neighbouring country in the Caribbean.

Many in the country reportedly believe that the drink made from sugar cane, fermentable fruits and beverages prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Rafaél Sánchez, minister of health, said a total of 130 ingested the liquor but only 109 people lost their lives.

“Medical tests have concluded that 109 people died as a result of drinking a concoction that included more than 50% methanol,” Sanchez said.

The minister said the police have been confiscating higher quantities of clerén within the Dominican Republic over the past few weeks.

He said campaigns are underway to clamp down on manufacturers and distributors of the illegal beverage.

The minister said on several occasions, he has debunked the myth that the moonshine cures COVID-19 patients.

The country has recorded 5,926 cases of COVID-19 and 273 people have lost their lives to the disease, according to Worldometer.