Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has tested positive for the coronavirus, a statement issued by the president's office on Friday said, as case counts continue to surge across the North African nation.
The government confirmed that the prime minister, who had already received his second dose of the vaccine on May 25, would continue to work in isolation and receive a follow-up test next week. It was not immediately clear whether he had received the Pfizer, Sinopharm or Sputnik V vaccine.
Mr Mechichi is one of more than 3,500 Tunisians who have tested positive each day in recent weeks as a new surge hits the country.
Positivity rates in some regions are topping 50 per cent and hospitals are groaning under the burden. Photos have been posted to social media of patients in oxygen masks lying in hospital hallways or on folding chairs.
Six cases of the Delta variant, first discovered in India, have been reported in Tunisia in recent days and the Covid-19 death rate has reached an record high.
Despite the dire outlook, the government on Friday demurred from imposing a nationwide lockdown after an emergency meeting of the independent scientific committee that advises officials on the pandemic.
Instead, the government reaffirmed its current nationwide measures, which include a 10pm curfew, while placing stricture measures on four regions.
Many feel the government is failing to take the decisive action needed to save lives.
“A Covid tsunami is hitting the country as the number of positive tests is very high, the number of deaths sometimes exceeds 100 per day and intensive care beds are almost full,” Amenallah Messadi, a member of the scientific committee, said earlier in the week.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
