Minister of Health, Population and Hospital Reform, Abderrahmane Benbouzid, affirmed today, Tuesday, in Algiers, that the six cases of the Indian variant (B.1.617) of the Corona virus discovered in the province of Tipaza are due to an infected Indian national residing in Algeria.
The minister said, on the sidelines of an inspection visit that led him to the Salim Zmirli Hospital in El Harrach, that “The discovery of the Indian variant of Corona virus, which was caused by an infected resident Indian national (the examination was carried out at Kolea Hospital), was followed by an investigation that revealed the rest of infections and the epidemiological investigation is still continuing to detect other potential infections”.
Regarding the current prevailing situation, Mr. Benbouzid considered that it is “relatively stable” and that “it is not possible to speak at present about a third wave of the virus, while prevention and compliance with preventive and health measures remain a sine qua non condition to preserve the safety of everyone.”
As for the pace of the vaccination campaign in Algeria and the receipt of additional batches of vaccine doses, the minister said: “We were waiting to receive a significant quantity of vaccines on Friday coming from India, but the latter decided to stop exporting the vaccine due to the epidemiological situation that it is currently suffering from,” adding that Algeria had previously paid ” 15 percent of the amount of the quota that it wanted to obtain, and we are currently studying all possibilities to face up to this situation.”
Mr. Benbouzid affirmed that the Algerian diplomacy is working to obtain the necessary quotas of the vaccine, while complying with the health protocol and adopting all preventive measures remain “the best option to preserve the stability our country has reached in facing up to this pandemic.”
It is worth noting that the Pasteur Institute in Algeria announced yesterday, Monday, the discovery, for the first time, of six (6) cases of the Indian variant in the province of Tipasa, which is the strain classified by the World Health Organization as “under surveillance.”
