Tunisia Extends Curfew Hours After Record Rise in Daily COVID-19 Cases

On Tuesday, the Tunisian government extended night curfew hours in an effort to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus after the country recorded a record number of daily cases. The curfew will be in effect from 8 PM to 5 AM starting Thursday. The government stated it would ban all gatherings until July 11. The Ministry of Health reported 5,251 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, along with 106 fatalities, bringing the total death toll to around 15,000. The government is facing widespread criticism for the slow pace of the vaccination campaign and for hospital intensive care units being full, while the Prime Minister has refused to impose another general lockdown, stating that the country cannot bear it. The previous lockdown last year successfully contained the virus but caused significant economic pain in a country where economic difficulties have undermined confidence in successive democratic governments.