Occupation rate of oxygen-supported beds in Tunisia stands at nearly 15% (Health Minister)

(TAP) – “The occupation rate of oxygen-supported beds in public and private health facilities stands at nearly 15% right now,” Health Minister Ali Mrabet said on Friday.

 

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is less dangerous than the Delta one, which has caused a surge in the death toll in Tunisia and the swift saturation of oxygen-supported and IC beds, the minister told the media on the fringes of the ceremony to deliver a Japanese donation of medical equipment to Tunisia.

 

The minister further emphasised the need to wear face masks and complete the vaccination scheme, notably the 3rd booster shot, so as to avoid contamination, especially as the “Omicron” variant is highly contagious.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Tunisia takes delivery of second batch of medical supplies donated by Japan

(TAP)- Tunisia took delivery Friday of 16 portable ultrasound machines and 73 incubators for newborns as part of a second batch of medical supplies donated by Japan.

 

This donation, worth a total of 500 million yen (TND 12.4 million), includes a total of 41 portable ultrasound machines and 73 incubators for newborns, said the Japanese embassy in Tunis.

 

Health Minister Ali Mrabet told reporters, on the sidelines of a ceremony to take delivery of the donation, the first batch (25 portable ultrasound machines) was handed over in June 2021.

 

“The medical equipment handed over Friday is a second batch consisting of high-technology products. It will be given to neonatology services in various Tunisian hospitals, ” he further said.

 

Japanese Ambassador to Tunisia Shinsuke SHIMIZU said ultrasound systems are light and resistant, while incubators are energy efficient and water tight for an increased protection of newborns.

 

The equipment will help beef up the capabilities of Tunisian hospitals, notably emergency and maternity wards which are essential in fighting the pandemic.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Revolution: UGTT calls for achieving Tunisian people’s demands

(TAP) – On the celebration of the 11th anniversary of the revolution (December 17 / January 14), the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) called to achieve the Tunisian people’s demands.

 

The UGTT stressed in a statement the need to end the suffering of the families of martyrs and wounded of the revolution and regularise their situation.

 

It also called to reveal the truth about political assassinations and terrorist networks sending fighters abroad as well as the suspicious funding of some organisations, in addition to the attack perpetrated against the union on December 4, 2012.

 

The union also called to initiate a dialogue with the participation of different national forces and determine the major choices in multiple sectors as well as to engage in the respect of the law and the guarantee of rights and freedoms.

 

The UGTT also called not to go back to the pre-July 25 period, while expressing its concerns about the unclear situation in the country.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

AFCON 2021: Six Tunisian soccer players test positive for COVID-19

(TAP) – Six national soccer players playing in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2021) have tested positive for COVID-19, the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) announced on Friday.

 

“As part of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s testing routine before each game, the tests conducted on Friday morning revealed that Naim Saliti, Yohan Touzghar, Oussama Haddadi, Mohamed Drager, Dylan Bronn and Issam Jebali have contracted the virus,” the FTF said.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

WEF Innovation Week next January 17-20

(TAP)- The Water, Energy, Food NEXUS Innovation Week is slated to be held on January 17-20, at the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Centre as partner of the NEX-LABS and PHEMAC projects, .

 

This online regional event will bring together Euro-Mediterranean researchers, policy makers, investors, Industry players, members of academia, technology transfer offices, SMEs, startups and Tunisian and Euro-Mediterranean entrepreneurs.

 

The event is an opportunity to discuss the concerns of Tunisia and the Euro-Mediterranean space, mainly energy needs, water demand and food security.

 

The Innovation Week is expected to foster strategic partnerships between stakeholders.

 

Topping the event’s agenda are a regional conference, workshops, panel discussions, roundtable meetings and exhibition areas.

 

Over four days, SMEs, Startups and Innovators have an open space to exhibit their innovative products, services and ideas in relation to water, energy and food.

 

NEX-LABS (Nexus-driven open labs for competitive and inclusive growth in the Mediterranean) project is co-funded by the European Union as part of the Cross-Border Cooperation programme (IEV CTF Med 2014-2020).

 

It is designed to support the implementation of environment-friendly technologies for the sustainable increase in agri-food production which rests on a more efficient use of energy and water in partner countries (Spain, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Italy, Egypt and Cyprus).

 

PHEMAC project (Participatory Hub for Effective Mapping, Acceleration and Capitalisation and of EU-MPC NEXUS best practices) is co-financed by the EU as part of PRIMA programme, a EU programme for Research and Innovation solutions in the Mediterranean region.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Autumn 2021 ninth warmest fall season since 1970 (INM)

(TAP) – The Autumn of 2021 ranks ninth among the warmest autumn seasons in Tunisia since 1970, the National Institute of Meteorology (INM) said in a Climatological Bulletin of autumn 2021 in Tunisia.

 

According to the INM, the fall of 2021 was characterized by a relative increase in temperatures. The overall average of average temperatures reached 22.1 ° C and was higher than the reference average (1981-2010) with a difference of (+0.9 ° C).

 

Regarding rainfall, the total seasonal rainfall accumulation of the main stations reached 1904.5 mm and was lower than the reference seasonal accumulation of the same stations, with a deficit of 36%. This deficit was recorded in most regions except the stations of Bizerte, Tabarka, Kélibia, Beja and Kebili.

 

The average high temperatures of autumn 2021 saw, with the exception of the stations of Tabarka and Mahdia, an increase compared to the seasonal averages of reference on all stations. Deviations ranged from (-0.4 °C) in Tabarka to (+1.8 °C) in Sidi Bouzid.

 

The overall average daily high temperature in the autumn of 2021 was slightly above the reference average (+0.8 ° C).

 

As for the average minimum temperatures, they were all above the reference averages. They varied between 12.2 ° C in Thala and 20.3 ° C in Djerba, except for stations Enfidha and Matmata.

 

The overall average daily minimum temperature in autumn 2021 was (+1°C) above the reference average.

 

Source: TAP News Agency