Algeria is experiencing an outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Friday, July 9, 831 new cases were registered and specialists do not rule out even higher figures in the coming days.
Among them, Prof. Fawzi Derrar, director of the Institut Pasteur in Algeria. Speaking on Radio Sétif, the professor said that the current wave is due to the Delta variant (ex-Indian), the most common in Algeria with the Alpha variant (ex-British).
The deterioration of the health situation was expected as soon as the new variants appeared in Algeria, he added.
Specialists, reveals Professor Derar, are particularly concerned about the Delta variant, which is very contagious, knowing that each person affected can transmit it to eight others.
Another peculiarity of this variant, according to the specialist, it causes the hospitalization of a large proportion of those affected, which is behind the saturation observed at the level of hospital infrastructures, especially in Algiers.
Derrar does not rule out a return to confinement in certain regions
” We are sounding the alarm, the number of contaminations will multiply in the coming days, there is a terrible increase in the number of daily cases”, warned Faouzi Derrar.
Nonetheless, he argues, the wave will peak in two weeks and then subside, provided prevention measures are strictly adhered to now.
For him, the most effective solution is vaccination. He says he does not understand the reluctance of Algerians to be vaccinated, when the vaccine is available and, above all, no deaths or serious cases have been recorded among those vaccinated.
The director of the Institut Pasteur reveals that 5 million doses have been sent to the wilayas and an additional 4 million should be received this week. It is unacceptable, he said, to see Algerians dying while we have the vaccines.
In order not to arrive at the situation in India, Europe or Tunisia, the professor recommends observing the barrier gestures and going to be vaccinated.
He believes that mosques could play an important role in raising awareness and announces that the experience carried out in Algiers this weekend will be generalized to mosques in other regions of the country. He also calls on company directors to educate their employees on the importance of vaccination.
Regarding the measures that could be taken by the authorities, Pr Derrar indicates that all options are possible, including a return to confinement in certain regions.
