Algeria – In this general vagueness, the issue of opening borders and resuming flights is debated, however, the Minister of Health provided further details in this regard in a statement to the Canal Algeria channel.
In order to shed some light on this great vagueness on the resumption of flights in Algeria, the guest on the Visions program on the French-speaking channel this Thursday, September 17, the Minister of Health, Abderrahmane Benbouzid wanted to provide further details to Algerian citizens regarding this long-awaited decision, reports the media L’Actu Algeria.
Thus, Prof. Benbouzid considered that keeping the borders closed since mid-March is a “wise measure”. According to him, this measure allowed Algeria to “keep the situation stable”. Subsequently, he indicated that this decision to reopen the Algerian skies is not only related to the epidemiological situation. Nevertheless, it has “several aspects”.
In the same vein, the head of the health sector in Algeria stressed the need to keep the borders closed. Since, once reopened, “you will not be able to prevent movement, and you will not be able to control everything”, he added, referring to the resumption of flights.
In addition, the Minister of Health has brushed aside all hopes of opening Algerian borders. And this, by indicating that the latter cannot be envisaged except “when the situation will be improved also elsewhere, not only at home”.
Opening borders is a “sovereign measure”
Indeed, the first head of the health sector in Algeria affirmed that the decision to open the borders is a “sovereign measure”. It is therefore a prerogative that belongs to the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, reports the French-speaking media.
For him, the decision concerns the country’s borders, so it is a national measure. As a result, he stressed that the role of the scientific committee comes after the “political decision” to reopen the borders. Its role is therefore advisory only. The committee will therefore only give “the scientific aspect”, specifies Benbouzid.
In addition, with regard to health protocol, the minister indicated that Algeria may ask any traveler from abroad to provide a PCR test of less than 48 hours or 72 hours. Otherwise, the traveler should undergo a PCR test upon arrival.
