Tunisia Sees ‘Horizontal Growth’ in COVID-19 Cases

Passengers arriving at Tunis Airport are checked by thermal scanners for coronavirus symptoms (Reuters)
Passengers arriving at Tunis Airport are checked by thermal scanners for coronavirus symptoms (Reuters)
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Tunisia Sees ‘Horizontal Growth’ in COVID-19 Cases

Passengers arriving at Tunis Airport are checked by thermal scanners for coronavirus symptoms (Reuters)
Passengers arriving at Tunis Airport are checked by thermal scanners for coronavirus symptoms (Reuters)

Tunisia has recorded 983 COVID-19 cases, 424 out of them imported and 559 locally transmitted, in addition to six deaths, since opening the Tunisian border on June 27.

The horizontal growth of coronavirus cases pushed the country to declare an open war against the pandemic in several governorates.

Contact tracing showed that 85 percent of the patients are asymptomatic, hindering the containment of the disease. Total deaths reached 56, knowing that it remained fixed at 50 for a couple of consecutive months.

Tunisia recorded 78 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, 71 from local transmission and seven imported, which brought the total to 2,185, the Tunisian Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.

Member of Tunisia's National Anti-corruption Commission Dr. Samir Abdelmoumen described the increase as “frightening” especially in regions that saw a horizontal growth in infections, such as Gabes.

Abdelmoumen said the situation can be reversed if parties respected the precautionary measures. Commenting on the possibility of imposing a full lockdown or closing the borders, he ruled out such measures.



Algerian Expulsion of French Officials 'Will Have Consequences', Says French FM 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot addresses the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot addresses the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
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Algerian Expulsion of French Officials 'Will Have Consequences', Says French FM 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot addresses the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot addresses the media during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)

France's foreign minister on Tuesday slammed Algeria's decision to expel 12 French officials and warned of a riposte, as tensions mounted between Paris and its former North African colony.

Jean-Noel Barrot said the move was "regrettable" and warned it "will not be without consequences", adding that if "Algeria chooses escalation, we will respond with the greatest firmness".

Algeria's foreign ministry said it had declared the 12 persona non grata after the arrest in France of an Algerian consular official, a "vile act" it blamed on French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.

For decades, ties between France and Algeria have gone through diplomatic upheavals, and the fresh row comes at a delicate time in relations, underscoring the difficulties in repairing ties.

On Friday, French prosecutors indicted three Algerians, including a consular official, on suspicion of involvement in the 2024 abduction of an opponent of the Algerian government, Amir Boukhors, in a Paris suburb.

The men, who are also being prosecuted for "terrorist" conspiracy, were placed in pre-trial detention.