Algeria to reimpose restrictions as president recovers from Covid-19
The Algerian president will still undergo medical tests, the presidency said.
CAPE TOWN, November 16 (ANA) – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 74, has completed his Covid-19 treatment after he was flown to Germany in late October after testing positive for the coronavirus disease.
According to a report by news broadcaster Al Jazeera, the Algerian president will still undergo medical tests, the presidency said.
Anadolu news agency reported that Tebboune announced that he had quarantined himself on October 24 after some senior officials in his entourage developed Covid-19 symptoms.
According to reports, Tebboune’s illness meant he was out of the country for a referendum on November 1.
Algerians voted on presidential term limits, as well as creating a new anti-corruption body.
The referendum vote saw the lowest voter turnout with just 23.7 percent of registered voters casting ballots, according to official data.
Meanwhile, as the president recuperates after receiving treatment for Covid-19, case numbers have surged in the north African country, spurring the government to reinstate Covid-19 restrictions from November 17 to curb the spread of the virus that has infected 67,679 people and killed 2,154.
According to the latest real time data, the country currently has just over 20,000 active cases.
The restrictions will include the closure of gyms, cultural centres, leisure venues, used car markets, as well as limited opening hours for some businesses, the prime minister’s office said on Sunday, writes not for profit media outlet Middle East Monitor.
Local media reported that under the restrictions, businesses such as cafes, restaurants, hair salons, and toy shops will be ordered to close at 3:00 p.m.
The country had started easing restrictions in June after a downward trend in cases, paving the way for the reopening of most businesses, but a recent surge has prompted authorities to look at managing the pandemic more tightly to avoid large scale contagion.
African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay
