Tunisia on the brink of fourth coronavirus wave

The health ministry in Tunisia has warned citizens to expect a fourth wave of the coronavirus in mid-June, with a spike in infections in August.

JOHANNESBURG, June 2 (ANA) – The health ministry in Tunisia has warned citizens to expect a fourth wave of the coronavirus in mid-June, with a spike in infections in August.

According to Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP), Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi said on Monday that between June and August, the overall number of deaths due to infection by the coronavirus will be 4,000.

Mehdi was speaking at a hearing session held by the Health and Social Affairs Committee at the House of the People’s Representatives (ARP), where he said that the positivity rate had reached more than 20%.

He also highlighted that hospitals were under pressure, with intensive care beds at an occupancy rate of 82% and oxygen beds at 74%.

On May 19, The Guardian reported that Tunisia had ended its six-week lockdown despite having the highest number of reported deaths per capita of any country in Africa.

According to the publication, coronavirus cases in the North African country were relatively low after the lockdown was imposed, which entailed the closure of borders and shutting down all but essential commercial activity. However, cases had since increased.

Meanwhile, NI Travel News reported on Wednesday that Tunisia has now reopened to British travellers after removing its quarantine and testing rules for vaccinated tourists.

In its latest update, Tunisia has reported 346,986 cases of coronavirus. The North African country has also recorded 305,055 recoveries and 12,720 coronavirus-related deaths.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher