ALGIERS, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad stressed Saturday the need to assess socio-economic effects caused by the COVID-19 "objectively and without overstatement," the official APS news agency reported.
The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting in capital Algiers with social and business representatives, aimed at setting up a safeguard committee in charge of evaluating the repercussions caused by the pandemic on the national economy.
He pointed out that the committee will draw up a report that will be examined at the government meeting on July 26.
The prime minister stressed that the socio-economic revival and recovery couldn't be achieved without "balanced companies and sufficient purchasing power for the households" in order to boost the economic momentum.
Algeria on Saturday reported 601 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cases to 22,545 with 1,068 deaths.
China and Algeria have offered mutual help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Chinese medical expert team arrived in Algeria on May 14 for a 15-day mission to help fight the coronavirus, through sharing China's experience in controlling the virus' spread. Enditem
