Tunisia Reports Zero COVID-19 Cases for 8th Successive Day

Tunisians wearing protective masks in Tunis, Tunisia (File photo: AFP)
Tunisians wearing protective masks in Tunis, Tunisia (File photo: AFP)
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Tunisia Reports Zero COVID-19 Cases for 8th Successive Day

Tunisians wearing protective masks in Tunis, Tunisia (File photo: AFP)
Tunisians wearing protective masks in Tunis, Tunisia (File photo: AFP)

The Tunisian Ministry of Health announced that the country did not record any new coronavirus cases for the eighth day in a row, which confirms the success of the government plan to limit the spread of the pandemic.

The Ministry stated that the total number of confirmed cases in the country is 49, all of whom who are under medical supervision, with over 989 recoveries.

The director-general of the National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases, Nissaf Ben Alaya, announced that for over 40 days, 15 of the 24 Tunisian states did not record any COVID-19 cases, while five other states did not report any local cases for over 37 days.

Also, four states including Tunisia, Gafsa, Qibili, and Mahdia, did not report new cases for over 20 days, which confirms the great success in controlling the pandemic, according to Ben Alaya.

She also said that for three consecutive weeks, the virus has not been transmitted over the Tunisian territory. She announced that the next stage of maintaining Tunisia’s health security is considered more difficult than the previous stage of containing the virus.

However, Ben Alaya warned that the virus could return if Tunisians did not respect the recommended health measures, including maintaining social distance and wearing masks in closed areas.

She emphasized that the National Anti-Coronavirus Committee identified several scenarios that include easing lockdown restrictions and measures if the number of cases decreased globally. It also calls for several preventive measures for arrivals from countries with a high number of cases.

Earlier, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) announced Tunisia as a "safe tourist destination" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNWTO said Tunisia has developed a health protocol to guarantee a safe environment for travelers and workers in the tourism sector.

Tunisia announced it is ready to resume tourism safely and will be reopening its borders on June 27 and welcome international tourists as of July.

The third phase of the country’s efforts to lift its coronavirus lockdown began on June 4, and inter-city and regional travel has already resumed in full.



Palestinian Authority at Risk of Collapse, Norway Says

Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
TT

Palestinian Authority at Risk of Collapse, Norway Says

Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)

The Palestinian Authority could collapse in the coming months, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Monday, citing a lack of funding, continuing violence and the fact that half a million Palestinians are not allowed to work in Israel.

"The situation is extremely dire. The Palestinian Authority, with whom we work closely, are warning us that they might be collapsing this summer," Barth Eide told Reuters.

"If it collapses, you could end up having another Gaza, which would be terrible for everybody, including the people of Israel," he added.

Norway chairs the international donor group to the Palestinians and is a backer of the PA.