Tunisia: minister says most Covid cases are British variant

Tunisian Health Minister Fawzi Mahdi said on Tuesday that most Covid-19 cases in the country are the British variant. Mahdi made his comment during a press conference at his ministry where he briefed journalists on the latest situation regarding the virus and the vaccination campaign.

He explained that tests will enable the ministry to identify the genetic evolution of the virus and the type of variant spread in the country, especially in the provinces which are being hit hard. He pointed out that most Tunisians are not aware of the seriousness of the situation and do not comply with preventive measures and health protocols. Testing campaigns are to be intensified.

The minister said that public and private gatherings and demonstrations are behind the current health crisis in the country, and called for people to respect the preventive measures to counter the pandemic. He added that the Indian variant has not been detected in Tunisia so far.

Tunisia now has more than 450 recovery beds for patients, and some new oxygen beds, making the total available 2,431. Moreover, the Ministry of Health has established a field hospital in Beja governorate and opened 18 new vaccination centres across the country.

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Tunisia is witnessing a new wave of coronavirus infections, which prompted the government to announce general quarantine in the governorates of Kairouan, Siliana and Beja, as well as Zaghouan to the south of the capital Tunis.

As of Monday, the total number of coronavirus infections recorded in Tunisia was 385,428, including 14,118 fatalities and 336,652 recoveries. Almost 1.6 million people have been vaccinated, around 10 per cent of the population.