Tunisia Gradually Eases Coronavirus Restrictions, Signs of Life Return

Emergency doctors exit the Tunisian health ministry after collecting supplies (AFP)
Emergency doctors exit the Tunisian health ministry after collecting supplies (AFP)
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Tunisia Gradually Eases Coronavirus Restrictions, Signs of Life Return

Emergency doctors exit the Tunisian health ministry after collecting supplies (AFP)
Emergency doctors exit the Tunisian health ministry after collecting supplies (AFP)

Signs of life are returning to Tunisia after authorities began easing restrictions with the gradual lifting of the comprehensive lockdown imposed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tunisia started the first stage of the national strategy for a partial lifting of lockdown which includes three phases: from May 4 to 24, from May 24 to June 4, and from June 4 to 14.

Several employees have resumed their work in the public and private sectors.

Authorities also resumed transportation within the governorates, given that passengers obtain a license to move around and wear protective masks to avoid the reemergence of the coronavirus.

Several shops, including blacksmiths, hairdressers, and carpenters opened for business. Taxi drivers also began transporting passengers who are afraid to use public transportation where the risk of contracting the virus is considerably higher.

Health Minister Abdellatif Mekki stressed that it is obligatory to wear masks, reiterating the importance of maintaining social distancing and taking precautions while using public transportation during the upcoming period.

Authorities announced that people returning to work should obtain administrative licenses, while respecting health measures.

The Tunisian authorities indicated that the gradual lifting of lockdown could be reversed in the event of a second wave of virus infections.

Abdulhamid Ammar, an employee, said people should not be reassured about the new measures, stressing that everyone must adhere to the health measures “until we get out of this dark tunnel.”

Moez al-Hazmi, who is a barber, happily confirmed that the new stage is like “a second life” in facing the virus, indicating that people should be careful after the pandemic succeeded in eliminating the normal lifestyle. He indicated that it is unreasonable to continue living during these conditions.

Tunisia has 1,018 confirmed coronavirus cases with 406 recovering and 43 deaths, while 643 cases are under medical observation.



Blaze at Cairo Telecom Building Kills 4 and Disrupts Internet, Phone

A boy wearing a mask looks on, as firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted in a telecommunications building in the Ramses district of downtown Cairo, Egypt July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A boy wearing a mask looks on, as firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted in a telecommunications building in the Ramses district of downtown Cairo, Egypt July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Blaze at Cairo Telecom Building Kills 4 and Disrupts Internet, Phone

A boy wearing a mask looks on, as firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted in a telecommunications building in the Ramses district of downtown Cairo, Egypt July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A boy wearing a mask looks on, as firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted in a telecommunications building in the Ramses district of downtown Cairo, Egypt July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Four workers were killed and at least 22 others were injured in a fire that broke out on Monday at a key data center in Cairo, Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the spokesperson at Egypt's Health Ministry, told Reuters on Tuesday.

The blaze at a Telecom Egypt facility, which state TV said was contained on Monday, caused disruptions to communications across the capital.

Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, said in a statement on Tuesday that services will be gradually restored within 24 hours.

In a statement on Tuesday, Telecom Egypt said it mourned the employees that lost their lives and offered support for their families.

The fire halted phone calls, and disrupted internet access, with internet monitoring group Netblocks saying network data showed national connectivity at 62% of ordinary levels.

The health ministry posted alternative numbers for ambulance services across different governorates in case people were unable to reach its main hotline.

Besides phone calls, some digital banking services were also impacted including credit cards, ATM machines and online transactions, a bank source and residents said on Monday. Banks had already been closed for the day.

The injuries were mostly because of smoke inhalation, health ministry spokesperson Ghaffar said on Monday.

The state news agency MENA said on Monday the fire had been prevented from spreading to the entire building and neighboring rooftops.

An initial examination indicated that the fire was likely to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, MENA cited a security source as saying.