TUNIS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian government announced on Friday a 14-day confinement across the country lasting from March 22 to April 4.
"Citizens and residents are called to stay at home and to go out only for a necessity such as medical supplies and treatment," said a statement released by the government.
"This excludes workers from the sectors in vital areas related to food, health, administration, justice, energy, security, water, transport and communications and the media, as well as hygiene and vital industrial activities," it added.
The statement stressed that the state will ensure vital services such as safety, health and food.
Earlier on Friday, Tunisian President Kais Saied decided to impose a general confinement across the country.
In a speech broadcast live on the state television Wataniya, Saied explained that citizens should not leave their homes "except in extreme cases."
Saied announced that the 24 provinces of the country will be isolated from each other, especially as travel between cities will be suspended, "except for very extreme cases and maximum emergency."
Saied also decided to close industrial zones with a high concentration of workers.
As of Friday, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tunisia has risen to 54.
