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MOROCCO and Algeria have reported their first cases of the Indian coronavirus variant, according to Sputnik International.

According to the news platform, the Moroccan health ministry recorded two cases of the variant in the country’s most populous city, Casablanca.

The Pasteur Institute revealed that six cases of the variant were detected in the Tipaza province in the northern region of the country.

Africanews reported that 1.5 million Moroccan citizens had been arrested between July last year and April for breaching Covid-19 measures, | African News Agency (ANA)

FIVE people are accused of washing and reusing nasal swabs to test for the coronavirus in Indonesia at Kualanamu airport in Medan, ABC News reported.

The publication said the accused were employed by a state-owned pharmaceutical company, Kimia Farma Diagnostika, to conduct rapid antigen tests on passengers since December.

Police said they estimated that the workers reused swabs from 150 kits up to 20 000 times. Up to 9 000 passengers may have been tested with the reused swab sticks, the BBC reported. | African News Agency (ANA)

MALAYSIAN authorities announced this week that they would tighten Covid-19 measures before the Hari Raya (festival of Eid) holidays next week.

The authorities have banned the annual balik kampung (return to village), which takes place during festive seasons when migrant workers visit their families, and have further banned open houses.

Nearly 1 660 hot spots were identified, from supermarkets to food bazaars .

According to Channel Newsasia, Ramadaan bazaars would be allowed to operate, provided that stringent health protocols are adhered to. | African News Agency (ANA).