Opinion by Arezki Daoud: Persistent, logical and even unpopular policies must be implemented to fight the coronavirus. And so North African countries adopted night curfews to limit the spread of Covid-19. At first, the decision sounded OK. But then again what is the purpose of a curfew when people are generally in bed, anyway, and then they can roam freely all day in markets and public places? The night curfew-only at night approach completely beats the intended purpose.
Most North African leaders tend to mimic what their western peers are doing, in particular what France does. There are very little initiatives coming from within, and so there is a great deal of haphazard decision-making that does not fit the reality on the ground. In most cases, these illogical restrictions are only meant to project a sense of control. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, so-called political leaders in the Arab world and elsewhere have taken the opportunity of the crisis to show they have what it takes to be leaders and project strength. But many of their decisions underscore their inability to make sense of the real crisis. The night curfew is one of these bad ideas that are not likely to halt the spread of virus as it is intended, if a day curfew is not imposed.
Consider what the Algerian government announced yesterday. It told businesses that donations of masks, gloves, and other such products must be directed to the central pharmacy agency in Algiers. This means that if a business a 1,000 km away wants to donate face masks to a local hospital, they cannot. They have to fly to the capital, so the central pharmacy decides what to do with the donation. Brilliant move!
Tunisia says over 400 arrested for breaking virus curfew
Tunis, March 23, 2020 (AFP) – Tunisian police arrested more than 400 people for breaking a night-time curfew imposed to fight the spread of coronavirus, the authorities said Monday. Around 30 of the 408 transgressors who were arrested remained in custody, while the others were released after a warning, Interior Minister Hichem Mechichi told reporters. “Anyone who breaks the security rules will be treated as a criminal because failing to respect rules within the context of the pandemic is a crime,” he said. A total of 412 cafes, bars and restaurants were forced by the security forces to close.
Alongside a 6.00 pm to 6.00 am curfew that entered into force on March 18, daytime restrictions took effect on Sunday, limiting movements to those of “extreme necessity”, including for work in key sectors. Tunisia’s presidency has announced increased military deployments to enforce the restrictions. The country has so far registered three deaths from the coronavirus among 90 confirmed cases, the health ministry said Monday.
Meanwhile, Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Monday night ordered people to confine themselves to their homes between 7.00 pm and 7.00 am in the capital Algiers and other cities hit by coronavirus. The order, released in a statement by the presidency, avoided using the word “curfew”, a particularly sensitive term in the country, due to a 1992-2002 civil war that killed 200,000. Official figures put Algeria’s coronavirus death toll at 17, among 230 confirmed cases.
Egypt also imposes night-time curfew for two weeks
Cairo, March 24, 2020 (AFP) – Egypt is to impose a night-time curfew for two weeks from Wednesday to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli announced. “Movement will be banned on all public roads from 7 pm to 6 am… for two weeks,” Madbouli told a Tuesday news conference. “All mass transport, public and private, will be halted over the same period.” Penalties for violators include a fine of up to 4,000 Egyptian pounds (just over $250) and even prison, he said.
The prime minister said central and provincial government services including the issuing of licenses would be suspended for two weeks. He said that malls and shops selling more than basic goods would be allowed to open until 5 pm on work days but would be required to close over the Friday-Saturday weekend.
Cafes and nightclubs would be closed, while restaurants and other food outlets would be allowed to offer delivery services only. Bakeries, grocery stores, pharmacies and supermarkets outside malls would be exempted. The health ministry has so far registered 19 deaths from the coronavirus in Egypt out of 366 confirmed cases.
The government has already closed schools and universities and halted air traffic in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus among the country’s 100 million people. Religious authorities have also shut all mosques and churches and halted prayer gatherings for at least two weeks.
