Tunisia’s Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi on Sunday announced he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has severe symptoms, reported Anadolu Agency.
“My COVID-19 test was positive today, although I complied with health protocols and adhered to all measures,” Jerandi wrote on Twitter.
The foreign minister urged people to protect themselves from the virus. He said he will now be more insistent in continuing with efforts to encourage vaccination to protect the people of Tunisia from the virus.
Tunisia has reported over 197,000 infections and over 6,200 deaths from the virus, according to a tally by US-based Johns Hopkins University. More than 144,000 people have recovered.
The pandemic has claimed over 12 million lives across 192 countries and regions since originating in China in December 2019.
The US, India, and Brazil are among the worst-hit countries in terms of the number of coronavirus cases.
Last week, the Tunisian government extended its virus curfew and banned demonstrations until February 14 to curb the spread of the virus. Previously, the country had a curfew in place until January 15.
The curfew is effective from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. (19:00-04:00 GMT) local time. The ban on gatherings has been re-imposed and movement between cities via public and personal vehicles has been prohibited as well. The authorities have recommended employees switch to remote work.
Restaurants and bars in Tunisia will remain closed except for takeout food. Schools and universities can resume studies Monday but many classes will be transferred online.
Tunisian Health Ministry spokesperson, Nissaf Ben Alaya warned that the government will take “drastic measures” against violators, saying the country is “at a critical juncture” in its battle against COVID-19.
The latest curfew comes after a week of protests and rioting over economic troubles. On Saturday, hundreds of people marched in the Tunisian capital to protest police repression, corruption, and poverty.
