Tunisia bans gatherings, reduces public-sector work hours to curb COVID-19

The Tunisian authorities have banned all gatherings and reduce working hours for employees in the public sector in order to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

This was stated by the country’s Prime Minister, Hichem Mechichi, on Sunday October 4, 2020.

According to Mechichi, the decision was taken amid strong fears that hospitaln will be unable to cope with a high number of patients because of the shortage of intensive-care beds.

Tunisia’s total number of coronavirus cases has jumped to more than 20,000 compared with roughly 1,000 cases before the country’s borders were reopened on June 27.

In a speech announcing the latest measures to combat the virus, Mechichi gave orders to Tunisia’s governors to implement a regional lockdown if necessary.

He however added that it was unthinkable to “reimpose a nationwide lockdown because of the unprecedented economic collapse caused by the first lockdown in March.”