In recent days, the Ministry of Health has introduced changes to the indicators of the epidemic situation, published daily on its Facebook page. It no longer reproduces the number of deaths recorded up to the day indicated, which is, in fact, the cumulation of previous days, but only the number of deaths that have occurred in the last 24 hours. This gives the impression that a significant decrease has been achieved. This is the case of the two days of 14 and 15 August, during which, respectively, 24 and 21 new deaths were recorded. However, a simple calculation operation reveals a figure of 120 deaths counted on the day of the 15th.
We understand, perhaps, the concern of the Ministry which seeks to pass on reassuring messages on the epidemic situation, by highlighting the full half of the glass, especially since the positivity rate of the analyses has significantly decreased in recent days from more than 40% to less than 20%. At the same time, the pressure on hospitals has receded and the conditions for the care of infected persons have improved. The spokeswoman for the scientific committee for the fight against the coronavirus at the Ministry of Health, Jalila Ben Khelil, explained, in a statement to TAP, that the number of hospitalized patients decreased to 2,950 patients on August 15, against 4,014 hospitalized patients on August 1. She said there has been a decline in the occupancy rate of resuscitation beds from 100 percent at the beginning of last month to 76.7 percent currently in the public and private sectors, attesting to an improvement in the care of new Covid-19 patients in hospitals.
Intensified campaign
In recent weeks, the President has been very active in the fight against the pandemic. With the arrival of aid from several countries: vaccines, hospital equipment, oxygen… the vaccination campaign has intensified. The two open days of 8 and 15 August saw an unprecedented influx. Nearly one million 200,000 people received their first doses.
As of August 15, 2021, about five million people have received at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19, or about 40% of the Tunisian population and it is hoped to reach a rate of 50% by the end of September. Especially since the vaccination campaign will target the over-18s, that is to say students and pupils, at the beginning of the school and university year.
Tunisia, which only a few weeks ago was at the top of the list of African countries terribly affected by the pandemic, now ranks second on the African continent with more than 15% of people doubly vaccinated behind Morocco with 30%.
Translated by Rifi-JDD
