Tunisia Reports Drop in COVID-19 Infections Amid High Inoculation Rates

Part of an intensive inoculation campaign in a school in Tunisia on September 11, 2021. (EPA)
Part of an intensive inoculation campaign in a school in Tunisia on September 11, 2021. (EPA)
TT

Tunisia Reports Drop in COVID-19 Infections Amid High Inoculation Rates

Part of an intensive inoculation campaign in a school in Tunisia on September 11, 2021. (EPA)
Part of an intensive inoculation campaign in a school in Tunisia on September 11, 2021. (EPA)

Tunisia did not record any new coronavirus-related deaths on October 11, for the first time in months as the country continues its vaccination drive, the health ministry announced on Wednesday.

The last few weeks saw a remarkable drop in death rates from COVID-19 complications compared with more than 250 daily fatalities in July and August.

Infections fell by an estimated 4.8 percent and did not exceed the limit of 230 new cases per day, the ministry added.

The total number of deaths recorded since the beginning of the pandemic is 25,046 and 682,953 recoveries.

The number of patients admitted to health institutions in the public and private sectors dropped to 689, including 13 new cases.

There are currently about 141 cases in intensive care units, while only 53 patients are on ventilators.

According to Riadh Daghfous, head of the scientific committee for the fight against the coronavirus, Tunisia is witnessing a gradual decline in COVID-related deaths thanks to the high rates of vaccination.

More than four million Tunisians have taken both shots, he affirmed, hoping they will reach five million by the end of October.

The ministry urged Tunisians, who haven’t gotten their jabs yet, to get vaccinated.



EU Must Put Pressure on Israel over Gaza War, Borrell Says

A displaced Palestinian woman carries her belongings as she flees Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip walk on the main Salah al-Din road on November 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
A displaced Palestinian woman carries her belongings as she flees Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip walk on the main Salah al-Din road on November 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
TT

EU Must Put Pressure on Israel over Gaza War, Borrell Says

A displaced Palestinian woman carries her belongings as she flees Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip walk on the main Salah al-Din road on November 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
A displaced Palestinian woman carries her belongings as she flees Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip walk on the main Salah al-Din road on November 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)

The European Union's top diplomat on Monday confirmed he would suggest to members of the bloc that the EU pauses its political dialogue with Israel, citing the country's conduct of the war in Gaza.

"Many people tried to stop the war in Gaza... this has not happened yet. And I don't see a hope for this to happen. That's why we have to put pressure on the Israeli government, and also, obviously on the Hamas side," Josep Borrell told journalists ahead of an EU meeting.

The European Union's foreign policy chief last week proposed that the bloc suspend its political dialogue with Israel, citing possible human rights violations in the war in Gaza, according to four diplomats and a letter seen by Reuters.

In a sign his proposal won't be welcomed by all EU members, Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp said the EU needed to uphold its dialogue with Israel.

"In the view of the Netherlands, this door should be kept open", he said.