Tunisia established tightened precautionary measures amid a rapid spread of COVID-19 across the country, a statement released on Thursday by the Prime Ministry reads.
The measures, taken after a meeting between Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and members of Tunisia’s committee to confront COVID-19 and several ministers, included the extension of the night curfew, suspension of the collective prayer, a ban of gatherings and suspension of classes.
Mechichi call on all 24 governors to announce a curfew in their provinces, from Monday to Friday between 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time and on Saturday and Sunday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m..
It was also decided to ban travel and inter-provincial traffic, “except for absolute and exceptional emergencies,” the statement said.
“Closed spaces can host 30 % of their capacity and open spaces, cafes, as well as restaurants, can be open at 50 %. These spaces will be forced to close from 4 p.m.,” it added.
The government has decided to suspend classes of schools, colleges and high schools from Oct. 28 to Nov. 8 and courses in public and private universities for a period of two weeks.
The preventive measures also included the ban of public and private events, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 15, as well as the prohibition of gatherings of more than four people in a public space except for public transport such as metros and buses.
Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that 5,968 tests were carried out on October 25-26. They revealed the infection of 2,125 more people with COVID-19, raising the total tally to 54,278 in Tunisia.
The death toll from the virus rose to 1,153, the Ministry said.
TunisianMonitorOnline
