HEALTH MINISTER SACKED

TUNISIA’S Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi sacked Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi this week amid spiralling Covid-19 cases in the country with 17 000 deaths in a population of around 12 million. Mechichi said Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi would head the ministry in a caretaker capacity. Mehdi had opened vaccination stations to all Tunisians over 18 for Tuesday and Wednesday, leading to stampedes. The ministry finally restricted access to vaccination to those aged over 40 on Wednesday to avoid a new rush. | AFP