TUNIS, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The mandatory quarantine in Tunisian medical centers over the COVID-19 concerns has so far cost the state 15 million dinars (5.19 million U.S. dollars), a health ministry official said Tuesday.
"So far, the state has taken care of 15,000 Tunisian nationals who returned from overseas," Mohamed Rabhi, head of the health quarantine commission at the ministry, was quoted by the private radio station Mosaique FM as saying.
"The mandatory quarantine of Tunisian nationals returning from abroad has become payable," he added.
But students, employees whose contract of employment has expired, Tunisian nationals in difficult financial situations, and those who have been stranded in the destination countries will be exempted from the quarantine fees, Rabhi noted.
Asma Shiri, the government spokeswoman, announced a few days ago that the quarantine period would be reduced to one week from two, during which two screening tests will be carried out, with one upon arrival and the other upon exit.
According to the latest report released Tunisia reported no new COVID-19 cases.
The number of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tunisia has totalled 1,051, with no new ones reported in the latest report by the health ministry on Monday night.
The Tunisian government imposed strict lockdown measures shortly after the announcement of the first coronavirus case in the North African country on March 2.
China has helped Tunisia in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 16, China donated a batch of medical aid to Tunisia's Ministry of National Defense, including facemasks, testing kits and medical protective goggles. Enditem
