Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Tunis - Mongi Saidani

Tunisia’s Health Ministry: Pandemic is Under Control

The Tunisian Health Minister during a meeting with the scientific committee (Health Ministry’s Facebook page)

The coronavirus pandemic is under control despite an increase in COVID-19 cases across the country in the past two months, a health official said.

Director General of Health Structures at Tunisia’s Ministry of Health Mohamed Mokdad said hospitals have 400 beds available, of which 100 are for coronavirus patients.

He said hospital wards specialized in treating COVID-19 cases haven’t yet reached full capacity.

In its latest report, the Health Ministry pointed out that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has reached 8,570 after recording 470 new cases in mid-September.

It also recorded 2,342 recoveries, while saying that the death toll rose to 133.

The ministry said in a statement that 7,369 confirmed cases have been reported since the border's reopening on June 27.

Health facilities expect further cases, saying 144 COVID-19 patients remain in hospital, including 47 in intensive care units and 13 on ventilators.

The Tunisian authorities classified on Thursday all the country's 24 provinces as part of the red zone, the highest level of severity in terms of the coronavirus outbreak.

The announcement comes in light of recording an average of more than 10 coronavirus infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the 24 provinces, said the National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases.

This classification reflects a massive spread of infection among Tunisians as only16 states were classified red in August.

The scientific committee to fight the COVID-19 pandemic has issued warnings and called on Tunisians to be more vigilant, respect the preventive measures imposed by the authorities and apply health protocols in public and private institutions and sectors.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.