Tunisia Combats Fourth COVID-19 Wave

Arab World

June 8th, 6:21am

Tunis - Mongi Saidani

Tunisian capital (AFP)

Tunisia entered the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, member of the Tunisian scientific committee for the fight against the coronavirus, Amen Allah Messaadi, revealed on Monday. He said the deterioration of the epidemiological situation in the country was the result of easing restrictions during Eid al Fitr, warning that the fourth wave has already started. In Tunisia, an epidemiological alert reached very high levels in 21 out of 24 districts, while the average number of new infections reported each day increased by 100 infections per 100k people in most regions, despite the decrease in the coronavirus-related deaths. Messaadi stressed the importance of taking precautionary and preventive measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, adding that the situation has been particularly critical in the northwest and mid-west districts, forcing the government to keep restriction measures in effect until June 27. In the Kairouan region, a one-week targeted lockdown was decreed starting Monday, including a decision to remove tables and chairs from cafes and restaurants, suspending prayers in all mosques as well as cultural and sports activities, and prohibiting all gatherings. Kairouan Governor Mohamed Bourguiba said the curfew will start at 8 pm instead of 10 pm and weekly markets and Spas will be closed. On Monday, the Health Ministry said 1,018 more COVID-19 infections and 47 fatalities were recorded in the past 24 hours. The number of coronavirus-related deaths has totaled 13,027 cases since the spread of the virus, said the same source. "Number of recoveries stood at about 1,639, the ministry said. Meanwhile, a government source told the German news agency that Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, who is expected to visit Switzerland soon, will seek to secure a larger number of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3015486/tunisia-combats-fourth-covid-19-wave