Africa against the COVID-19
Africa increasingly affected by the new coronavirus must "prepare for the worst" according to WHO. More than 40 countries on the continent are now contaminated with COVID-19, with a sharp increase in recent days in some countries in particular.
Algeria: Private initiatives and containment
New restrictive measures were taken on March 23 by the President of the Republic, they provided, among other things, to put the wilaya of Blida in total containment, for a period of ten days, renewable, with the ban on movement to and from this wilaya, a partial containment in the wilaya of Algiers from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. , with the exception of food supply throughout the Algerian territory, the application of social distancing in any establishment and place receiving the public and the prohibition of the circulation of taxis throughout the national territory.
On March 27, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad announces the extension of the partial containment measure from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to nine other wilayas as of March 28, 2020, these are the wilayas of Constantine, Oran, Sétif, Tipaza, Tizi Ouzou, Batna, El Oued, Médéa and Boumerdès. This measure was extended on April 1 to four new wilayas, the wilaya of Béjaïa, Aïn Defla, Mostaganem and Bordj Bou Arreridj, it took effect on April 2. On April 4, the partial confinement from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. was extended to all wilayas in Algeria, with the exception of Blida, which remains subject to total confinement. In the wilayas of Algiers, Oran, Béjaïa, Sétif, Tizi Ouzou, Tipaza, Tlemcen, Aïn Defla and Médéa, the hours of partial confinement have been extended from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. The measure comes into effect from April 5 to April 19.
Morocco: Evolution of government decisions
During the week of March 9 to 15, 2020 Morocco implemented measures to contain the spread of the epidemic. Thus, flights to several countries are suspended but return flights are however authorized. At the same time, maritime links with Spain and France are suspended. On March 13, the Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research (MEN) announces the closure of nurseries, schools, colleges, high schools and universities, starting March 16 and "until further notice".
On March 16, the interior ministry ordered the closure of many public spaces and public domain facilities. This decision concerns cafes, restaurants, cinemas and theaters, party rooms, clubs and sports halls, hammams, games rooms and nearby grounds.
On March 19, the Interior Ministry declares a state of health emergency and restricted traffic in Morocco from Friday at 6 p.m. until further notice, and declares this as the only inevitable way to keep the coronavirus under control.
On March 22, the draft decree law to establish a state of health emergency in the kingdom was adopted by the Moroccan government. The state of health emergency is in effect from March 20, 2020 at 6 p.m. local time to April 20, 2020 at 6 p.m. local time. This legislative decree allows the public authorities concerned to take the necessary and adequate measures to ensure compliance with the sanitary confinement which must be respected in order to fight against the pandemic.
On March 26, Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani announced a hiring halt until the end of the coronavirus crisis. The promotions as he also announced will have to be postponed until the situation is under control. The health and safety sectors are not affected.
On April 6, in addition to the traffic permit necessary for any movement outside the home and the security measures that accompany it, the use of a protective mask is now mandatory when traveling. Authorities arrested Salafist Sheikh Abou Naim, accused of incitement to hatred and threatening public order. The latter had released a video in which he described the coronavirus as being "a delirium, a figment of the imagination, a mirage", and where he criticized the government's decision to close the mosques, because this would make Morocco "a country renegade ". Other videos have been circulating, showing Islamist activists claiming the virus was a "divine plague".
Egypt
On February 14, the Egyptian Ministry of Health announced the first case in the country at Cairo International Airport involving a Chinese national. On March 6, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and WHO confirmed 12 new cases of coronavirus infection. The infected were among Egyptian personnel aboard the Nile cruise ship MS River Anuket, which was traveling from Aswan to Luxor. On March 7, 2020, health authorities announced that 45 people on board had tested positive and that the ship had been placed in quarantine on a dock in Luxor. The great fragility of the Egyptian economy worries some experts about its ability to respond to the crisis. Authorities are implementing freedom of information restrictions to cover damage from the coronavirus.
Tunisia
On March 9, 2020, following a national security council chaired by the President of the Republic Kaïs Saïed, measures were announced: the limitation of transport with Italy and the suspension of lessons in all schools and academics from March 12.
On March 13, the head of government Elyes Fakhfakh announced the move to level 2 with the closing of cafes, restaurants and nightclubs from 4 p.m., the suspension of collective prayers and the cancellation of congresses and cultural events. Sports competitions must take place behind closed doors. The maritime borders are closed and air links interrupted with Italy and limited with France, Egypt, Spain, the United Kingdom and Germany. In addition, anyone entering the territory must isolate themselves for fourteen days.
On March 15, it was announced that Chinese doctors were coming to work in Tunisia. Stocks of antibacterial gels and protective masks will also be supplied by China. On March 16, Fakhfakh announced additional measures from March 18, such as the closure of land and air borders, the prohibition of rallies, the closure of souks and hammams and the establishment of a single-session regime ( twice five hours a day). On March 17, 2020, Kaïs Saïed decreed a curfew from March 18, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., throughout the national territory. On March 20, he announced in a televised speech a total containment as well as the prohibition of all travel between agglomerations.
Senegal
Detections of cases of coronavirus on the territory of Senegal are carried out following consultations carried out by the patients themselves with health professionals. It is passive and not active detection. In order to fight the pandemic, Air Senegal has canceled its regional and international flights as of Friday March 20. On March 14, 2020, President Macky Sall announced the closure of schools, the banning of public demonstrations, the cancellation of the demonstrations planned for April 4, 2020 for the 60 years of the country's independence.
On March 23, 2020, Macky Sall declared a state of emergency across the country. On April 4, the state of emergency is extended for a period of thirty days. On April 6, a self-assessment tool was put online to help and guide, depending on the responses, what to do in the event of exposure to Covid-19 and the onset of symptoms.
