ALGIERS, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Sunday announced the activation of level III alert for the spread of the novel coronavirus, as infection cases have been reported in at least 17 out of the 48 provinces in the North African country.
The announcement was made by Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid during an interview with the state radio Channel 3.
"We must get prepared for the worst," he warned, without providing the latest death toll of the infections.
A day earlier, the Algerian health authorities said COVID-19 had claimed 15 lives among the 139 cases.
According to the COVID-19 Detection and Following-up Commission, the average age of the death cases is 63 years old and they all suffered from chronicle diseases.
On Friday, Algeria began evacuating the 2,278 nationals stranded in some airports in other countries.
The government has also kept 50 percent of employees on paid leave, except those working in vital fields such as security, army, fire-fighting and medical institutions.
The government has suspended all unnecessary air and sea travels as well as private and public transport, and closed crowded places such as schools, universities, stadiums and mosques.
All the measures will be maintained until April 4, and likely to be extended if necessary.
