Tunisia imposes a complete closure to confront Corona
On Friday, Tunisian Prime Minister Hicham El Mechichi announced the imposition of a complete lockdown in the country throughout the week of Eid al-Fitr to combat the resurgence of the Coronavirus, warning that the health sector is threatened with "collapse."
Al-Meshishi said in a press conference that approving the total closure from 9 to 19 May is a preventive measure, pointing out that "health institutions will collapse and this is a risk that we fear ... Doctors are on the verge of psychological collapse."
This measure is "to preserve the health system and the health of the citizen who did not adhere to the procedures," according to Al-Mashishi.
Movement is prohibited accordingly, except in extreme cases, and markets and places of worship are closed, and movement between governorates is prohibited.
Government spokeswoman Hasna bin Sulaiman stated at the press conference that celebrations and gatherings will be prohibited throughout the next week, starting from Sunday, and that leaving the homes will not be allowed except for necessities.
The authorities closed schools and colleges and imposed a night curfew for weeks, but the health crisis continues.
Since the beginning of April, Tunisia has recorded an increase in the number of HIV infections in the country, which numbers about 12 million people, with dozens of deaths and more than a thousand infections daily.
Tunisia has recorded a total of 11,208 deaths from the epidemic and more than 317,000 cases.
Government hospitals in major governorates are overcrowded, and recovery and oxygen departments in some have reached their maximum capacity.
More than 500 people are being treated in intensive care departments, an unprecedented number since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
In the year 2020, the government approved a complete closure that enabled it to avoid the first wave of the epidemic, and only a few dozen deaths were recorded at that time.
Al-Meshishi had rejected the complete closure decision in previous times, because the economic situation in the country did not allow it, and following a record decline in the gross domestic product in 2020, an estimated 8.9 percent.
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