Tunisia Announces COVID-19 Rapid Tests will be Available for Private, Public Sectors

Arab World

October 12th, 10:50am

Tunis - Mongi Saidani

Restaurants and coffee-shops shuttered at a usually lively street in La Marsa outside Tunis. (AP)

Tunisia will begin using the rapid COVID-19 test in the public and private sectors as of this week, which provides results within 20 minutes and costs less than other approved coronavirus tests. Tunisia confirmed a record number of infections with 3,137 cases on October 8 and 9, said the health ministry. It also recorded a record 47 deaths in a 48-hour period. As of the weekend, the country has registered 31,259 cases and 456 death as authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak. The reopening of the border on June 27 led to a second wave of the disease and record infection counts. The authorities have since taken a number of measures, including imposing lockdowns in seven governorates. They have also restricted movement and gatherings, including suspending Friday prayers and barring the serving of food and drinks inside cafes and restaurants and limiting their services to delivery and take out. They also announced that masks are mandatory in public and closed spaces, gyms will be shut down, private parties banned and protests suspended. The government is expected to take a set of steps to limit the economic impact of these measures amid outcry from restaurant and café owners who were forced to close and incur financial losses.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2560461/tunisia-announces-covid-19-rapid-tests-will-be-available-private-public-sectors