- Title: Algeria's health ministry advises against schooling and travel
- Date: 12th March 2020
- Summary: ALGIERS, ALGERIA (MARCH 12, 2020) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO MINISTRY OF HEALTH SIGN READING (Arabic): "Ministry of health, population, and hospital reform" PERSON TALKING TO SECURITY GUARD AT ENTRANCE WOMEN WALKING NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT TO BEGIN DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DJAMEL FOURAR, AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALGERIAN DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DJAMEL FOURAR, SAYING: "I ask citizens to postpone their travels, and not to go to countries with many cases. I ask that they only go when necessary, and if it is necessary I ask that they take into consideration all precautionary measures. We advise citizens living abroad not to visit family at this time, because they might be ill and infect their families here, helping spread the virus on a national scale." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALGERIAN DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DJAMEL FOURAR, SAYING: "(We hope) that the school holiday is moved forward, just as what was done with the stadiums, as a matter of precaution. We take all measures to protect everyone from danger." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS SEATED HEALTH POSTER ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALGERIAN DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DJAMEL FOURAR, SAYING: "Regarding public gatherings, that is something that does not concern the ministry of health. This is related to other governmental bodies." NEWSER ENDING FOURAR THANKING AUDIENCE AND ENDING NEWSER NEWSER ENDING / PEOPLE LEAVING
- Embargoed: 26th March 2020 18:29
- Keywords: Algeria Coronavirus Health ministry health schools travel
- Location: ALGIERS, ALGERIA
- City: ALGIERS, ALGERIA
- Country: Algeria
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C4R0EH3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Algeria ordered the closure of schools and universities on Thursday (March 12) and discouraged all but necessary travel in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Director of Health Djamel Fourar told a news conference that Algerians abroad should also reconsider visiting relatives back home in the north African country for fear of bringing the virus with them and exposing their relatives to it.
Shortly after the news conference, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered schools and universities shut after health authorities said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had risen to 24 with one person dead.
The government has already decreed measures to stop the disease spreading, including a ban on spectators at sports events, and on political, social and cultural gatherings.
Authorities have not said whether the ban on mass gatherings would include protests against the political establishment that have taken place in Algiers and other cities since early 2019, forcing out veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
(Production: Abdelaziz Boumzar, Nadeen Ebrahim) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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