Tunisia's health system on the brink of collapse 

For several days, Tunisia has recorded more than 1,000 new cases per day and 6,754 deaths since the start of the new coronavirus epidemic. The country has the second highest mortality rate on the continent, after South Africa. 

The country, which has only a few hundred resuscitation beds, had set an example in the region in March 2020 by enacting a strict general containment of more than two months, closing its borders and a nearly €1 billion aid plan to support businesses and people in distress. 

After a relatively continuous first wave in the spring of 2020, followed by a long period of stagnating cases, the country is now facing a second, more brutal wave. Despite a fortnight of general confinement in mid-January, the country reached a record 100 deaths in 24 hours on 21 January. 

Health workers once again fear hospital overcrowding, while doctors have been demonstrating for years to denounce deteriorating working conditions.  

Tunisia, which has changed its health minister twice since the start of the pandemic, announced a vaccination campaign for the second quarter of 2021 and is making a serious diplomatic effort to acquire the vaccine in time. The US-German Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine has already received the go-ahead from the Tunisian authorities. The government has ordered the purchase of two million doses that are expected to arrive in time for the start of the vaccination campaign, Hechmi Louzir, director of the Pasteur Institute in Tunis, told AFP.  

The North African country is also holding talks with Russia for the acquisition of the Sputnik V, health minister Faouzi Mehdi said.  

President Kais Saied has repeatedly stressed the need to "acquire the vaccine urgently" and choose the best one from a health point of view, "without entering into political considerations".  

The authorities are in contact with the World Bank, which has pledged nearly $12 billion to African countries to finance immunisation plans. The country has applied to join the Covax scheme, set up by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to ensure equitable access to vaccines. 

In the first wave, Tunisia recorded only 65 deaths and the peak of new infections was reached on 24 March with 59 infections. The country's good data earned it a place on the European Union's list of safe countries. The virus was virtually eradicated in Tunisia thanks to strict containment by the authorities, including a night-time curfew. 

However, the turning point came at the end of June when the authorities opened the borders after four months. Just one month later, in early August, positive cases multiplied mainly due to the arrival of foreign tourists.   

Since then the virus has spiralled out of control and the current alarming figures have led the Tunisian government to decree a four-day general lockdown from yesterday until 18 January.  

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), gross domestic product fell by 8.2 per cent in 2020, causing poverty and unemployment to rise and debt to explode. 

Tunisia, which a few weeks ago commemorated the tenth anniversary of the demonstrations that put an end to Ben Ali's regime, is now having serious difficulties in combating the virus. Endemic corruption, political tension and the country's financial crisis do not help.