Tunisia closes borders as Coronavirus cases rise to 24

Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfekh Monday said the country is shutting down its borders as part of measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease as the North African country reports 24 confirmed cases.

Speaking in an address to the nation, Fakhfekh said only transportation of shipments and repatriation of citizens from abroad are still allowed.
The decision is in line with moves adopted by neighboring countries, mainly Algeria and Libya which have closed their borders with Tunisia. Algeria and Morocco have also suspended all international flights.

The Prime Minister said a host of additional measures will be announced shortly to ease the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and society. These new preventive measures were taken as some people had failed to comply with the self-isolation procedure, he said.

The government worked out two action plans to combat the spread of the Covid-19. The first consists in putting in place a preventive strategy in the case of a new phase of Covid-19 spread by mobilizing hospital beds, healthcare staff and drugs, Fakhfakh said.

The second action plan focuses on the economic and social impacts on economic actors and on Tunisians at large.

As part of other preventive measures, Tunisia has banned gatherings, and suspended all sports events and shut down all public spaces.