Tunisia outbreak

Tunisian President Kais Saied yesterday ordered the military to take over national Covid-19 pandemic response, as the country fights one of Africa’s worst outbreaks. Soldiers and military medics are already carrying out vaccinations in remote parts of Tunisia. Meanwhile, an interim health minister yesterday replaced the health minister who was fired over his surprise decision to open vaccination centres to all adults this week. Unprepared authorities were swamped as crowds massed at vaccination centres. The president called it a “crime” to encourage large groups to gather while the government is trying to limit the spread of the virus. Tunisia has reported more deaths per capita than any African country and among the highest daily death rates per capita in the world in recent weeks.