Tunisian PM Mechichi wants faltering Covid-19 vaccination campaign boosted
A week ago Tunisia recorded its highest number of coronavirus-related deaths at 119.
JOHANNESBURG, May 6 (ANA) – Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has emphasised the need to fast-track the coronavirus vaccination process in the North African country.
According to Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP), Mechichi made these remarks on Wednesday at a meeting of the Tunisian Scientific Committee tasked with combating the coronavirus.
The publication reported on Wednesday that the meeting focused on health developments in light of the statistics provided on the spread of Covid-19 and the progress of vaccination.
He added that the duty of the scientific committee was based purely on scientific criteria and was not subject to constraints.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat, a week ago Tunisia recorded its highest number of coronavirus-related deaths at 119.
The publication also reported on Thursday that since the start of the national vaccination campaign on March 13, a total of 425,000 citizens had been vaccinated, while more than 103,000 had received two doses of the jab.
However, the campaign was progressing slowly and it was proving a challenge to vaccinate around 5.5 million people this year, or about half the population, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.
Meanwhile, the Tunisian Scientific Committee has recommended a two-day curfew on Eid ul-Fitr, said committee member Dr Amanullah Al-Masadi.
The committee has also suggested a ban on movement between cities as of May 8 and for all gatherings to be prevented in efforts to combat the virus.
The health ministry has reported 315,600 cases of Covid-19, with 269,653 recoveries and 11,016 deaths.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher