Tunisian health authorities warn of COVID-19 spread amid hospitalization surge

TUNIS: JAN. 26 – The Tunisian health authorities have warned of worsening COVID-19 epidemics in the North African country marked by an increasing number of hospitalized patients, Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported Tuesday.

“In order to curb the spread of COVID-19 across the country, … the preventive measures announced on Jan. 13 should be extended for two weeks,” Aman Allah Messaadi, a member of the country’s scientific committee for fighting the coronavirus, told TAP.

The committee also recommended strengthening the control of the vaccine passport and promoting the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Messaadi said.

Tunisia reported 2,834 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, raising the total tally of infections in the country to 856,739, according to the latest figures released by the health ministry.

The death toll from the virus rose by four to 25,999, while the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients reached 793, including 175 in intensive care units.

On Jan. 13, the Tunisian government announced a two-week curfew across the country from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to curb the new wave of COVID-19 spread.

The government also decided to ban all public gatherings indoors and outdoors, and cancelled or postponed all cultural and sport events. Wearing a mask remains compulsory in all places in Tunisia, according to the government.

-Xinhua