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.



Israel Frees a Gaza Medic Detained Since Troops Killed 15 Rescue Workers

Palestinians check the damage on an ambulance after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, November 3, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians check the damage on an ambulance after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, November 3, 2023. (Reuters)
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Israel Frees a Gaza Medic Detained Since Troops Killed 15 Rescue Workers

Palestinians check the damage on an ambulance after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, November 3, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians check the damage on an ambulance after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, November 3, 2023. (Reuters)

Israel released a Palestinian medic who has been held prisoner since soldiers killed 15 of his colleagues last month and buried them in a mass grave in southern Gaza. He's one of 10 detainees released back to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Prisoners released by Israel have said they were ordered by Israel not to speak to the media and fear for their safety, The AP news reported.

Meanwhile, south Africa, a staunch critic of Israel, presents its arguments to the United Nation’s International Court of Justice on Tuesday for a second day of hearings about Israel’s legal responsibilities to ensure humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where the aid system is nearing collapse. Israel’s total blockade of Gaza — now in its second month — has cut off all food, fuel, medicine or any other supplies.

Israel is marking its Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of militant attacks.

Fifty-nine hostages are still inside Gaza, of which around two dozen hostages are still believed to be alive.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Health Ministry.