The COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have spread to Algeria in February 2020. In response, the Algerian government ordered curfews, restricted gatherings, canceled public events, and issued stay-at-home orders between February and June. Some measures were re-implemented in later months in response to new waves of infections. A mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 began in January 2021. The pandemic disrupted anti-government protests, which largely halted in 2020 and resumed in 2021. 6,881 deaths were officially recorded by the Algerian government through 2022, although the World Health Organization estimated over 21,000 deaths had occurred through 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have spread to Algeria in February 2020. In response, the Algerian government ordered curfews, restricted gatherings, canceled public events, and issued stay-at-home orders between February and June. Some measures were re-implemented in later months in response to new waves of infections. A mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 began in January 2021. The pandemic disrupted anti-government protests, which largely halted in 2020 and resumed in 2021. 6,881 deaths were officially recorded by the Algerian government through 2022, although the World Health Organization estimated over 21,000 deaths had occurred through 2021.
Background
On 12 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan, Hubei, China, who had initially come to the attention of the WHO on 31 December 2019. Unlike SARS of 2003, the case fatality ratio for COVID-19 was much lower, but the transmission was significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. Algerians living in Wuhan were repatriated in early February. On February 12, the Ministry of Health, Population and Hospital Reform announced it was preparing a new emergency plan for handling an outbreak of the virus.
Timeline
February 2020
On 25 February, Algeria laboratory-confirmed its first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an Italian man who arrived on 17 February; on 28 February, Algeria deported him back to Italy, via a special flight from Hassi Messaoud Airport where he was subject to quarantine.
March 2020
On 2 March, Algeria confirmed two new cases of SARS-CoV-2, a woman and her daughter, the health ministry said.
On the afternoon of 3 March, Algeria reported another two new cases of SARS-CoV-2, which brought the total number of confirmed cases to five. The two new cases were from the same family, a father and daughter, and were living in France. A contact-tracing investigation was begun to identify other potential cases. The Ministry of Health announced on the evening of 3 March that three new cases of SARS-CoV-2 had been registered in Algeria, all from the same family, bringing the total number of cases to eight. On 4 March, the Ministry of Health recorded 4 new confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2, from the same family, bringing the total number of cases to 12.
On 12 March, five new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, as well as the first death from the disease. A second death was recorded shortly after. The ministry of Health, Population and Hospital Reform began reporting recoveries, stating that eight patients had recovered. On the same day, schools were locked due to the coronavirus spread, and all cultural events were postponed.
On 15 March, all sporting events were postponed until April 5 by the ministry of Youth and Sports.
On 17 March, Friday prayer was suspended and all mosques were ordered to close by the Minister of Religious Affairs. Air and sea travel was suspended between Algeria and several regions of the world, including Europe, North Africa, Arabia, and countries of the Sahel. All international flights were suspended by Air Algérie the next day. The sudden suspension of travel around the world left thousands of Algerian citizens stranded at international airports, and a government plan for repatriation was announced. Many Algerians would not return home until January 2021.
On 20 March, anti-government protests were called off for the first time in over a year. Many activists who participated in the protests turned to charity work during the pandemic but continued to express dissatisfaction with the government. Activists such as Walid Kechida were arrested for offending the president during the pandemic.
On 22 March, the Algerian Minister of Health, Abderrahmane Benbouzid, announced that the government would implement stay-at-home orders as the third phase of its pandemic response plan due to the rapid spread of the virus. The first provinces to be affected were Blida and Algiers, where a lockdown began the following day. The order was expanded to nine other provinces on March 27: Batna, Tizi Ouzou, Sétif, Constantine, Médéa, Oran, Boumerdes, El Oued, and Tipaza.
On 24 March, the Ministry of Communication announced that chloroquine would be used for therapeutic treatment of COVID-19.
By 31 March, there were a total of 716 confirmed cases and 44 deaths to the disease nationwide.
On 9 April, an extraordinary meeting of OPEC members was held to address the falling price of oil during the pandemic. Algeria's production quota was reduced by 200,000 barrels per day.
On 19 April, the Ministry of National Education announced Sunday the extension of the suspension of classes for the three education stages to 29 April.
On 22 April, Algeria received a new donation from China made up of surgical masks, test kits and artificial breathing apparatuses as part of the fight against COVID-19.
On 24 April, the lockdown measures which were applied in nine provinces, subject to partial containment from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m., were eased to run from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. The Blida province which was on total lockdown was subject now to partial lockdown from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
On 25 April, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad issued an instruction to ministerial departments and Republic's Walis (governors of provinces) for the extension of activity sectors and business opening.
On 27 April, the lockdown measures and the other relevant preventive measures to face COVID-19 were extended for an additional period of 15 days (from April 30 to May 14).
On 29 April, at the air base of Boufarik, Blida (50-km south of Algiers), Algeria received medical equipment offered by Russia as a contribution to Algeria's efforts to stem the spread of the COVID-19.
By 30 April, there were a total of 4,006 confirmed cases and 450 deaths.
May 2020
On 3 May, the school year was suspended and the Council of Ministers decided to submit proposals on the best way to finish the school year, with a final decision to be made at the next Council of Ministers meeting.
On 10 May, the Council of Ministers decided to postpone until September the baccalaureate and intermediate school certificate examinations in the second week of the same month, and canceled the primary school leaving examination while pupils and students will move up into the next classes in the three education cycles by calculating the averages of the first and second terms and reducing the admission average.
On 14 May, Minister of Health, Population and Hospital Reform Abderahmane Benbouzid said that wearing facemasks would become mandatory, if the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria persisted, and the situation was not under control.
By 17 May, 19 deaths to COVID-19 had been reported among the medical and paramedical staff in Algeria since the outbreak of the epidemic.
On 21 May, the Prime Ministry decided to suspend the traffic for all vehicles, including motorcycles, during the whole day of the 1st and 2nd days of Eid al Fitr holiday (24 and 25 May). This measure concerned all provinces and remained applicable even outside the hours of partial lockdown, scheduled from 13:00 pm until the next day at 07:00 am.
On 28 May, the government decided to maintain the partial lockdown until June 13 as part of the measures to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and to totally lift it in four provinces. Algeria decided to continue the use of the therapeutic protocol based on hydroxychloroquine against COVID-19.
By 31 May, there were a total of 9,394 confirmed cases and 653 deaths.
June 2020
On 14 June, lockdown measures were lifted in 19 provinces, and hours were adjusted in the remaining 29.
By 30 June, there were a total of 13,907 confirmed cases and 912 deaths.
July 2020
By 8 July 1700 healthcare professionals had been infected with COVID-19 since the outset of the outbreak in the country in February.
By 31 July, there were a total of 30,394 confirmed cases and 1,210 deaths.
August 2020
In the meeting of the High Security Council on 3 August 2020, it was decided to "adjust the partial lockdown hours from 11.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. in 29 provinces". Boumerdes, Souk Ahras, Tissemsilt, Djelfa, Mascara, Oum El Bouaghi, Batna, Bouira, Relizane, Biskra, Khenchela, M'sila, Chlef, Sidi Bel Abbes, Medea, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Tipaza, Ouargla, Bechar, Algiers, Constantine, Oran, Setif, Annaba, Bejaia, Adrar, Laghouat and El Oued were the concerned provinces.
On 9 August, Prime MinisterAbdelaziz Djerad decided on the measures for the "gradual and monitored opening of beaches, recreation areas, hotels, cafés and restaurants", while "respecting health protocols of prevention against the spread of Covid-19 pandemic".
There were 14,100 new cases in August, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 44,494. The death toll increased by 300 to 1,510. At the end of August there were 11,740 active cases.
September 2020
On 1 September, lockdown measures were lifted in 19 provinces, and renewed in 10 others.
There were 6,874 new cases in September, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 51,368. The death toll rose to 1,726. The number of recovered patients increased to 36,063, leaving 13,579 active cases at the end of the month.
October 2020
There were 6,574 new cases in October, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 57,942. The death toll rose to 1,964. The number of recovered patients increased to 40,201, leaving 15,777 active cases at the end of the month.
November 2020
On 3 November 2020, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was reported to have COVID-19 after being flown to Germany for treatment. There were 25,257 new cases in November, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 83,199. The death toll rose to 2,431. The number of recovered patients increased to 53,809, leaving 26,959 active cases at the end of the month. Model-based simulations suggest that the 95% confidence interval for the time-varying reproduction numberR t was lower than 1.0 in November and December.
December 2020
In December it was announced that Algeria intended to launch COVID-19 vaccinations in January 2021. President Tebboune returned from two months' hospitalization in Germany, but would return in early January for additional care. There were 16,411 new cases in December, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 99,610. The death toll rose to 2,756. The number of recovered patients increased to 67,127, leaving 29,727 active cases at the end of the month.
January to March 2021
On 10 January, the minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda, announced plans to reopen theaters and other cultural institutions.
Mass vaccination commenced on 29 January, initially using 50,000 doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Shipments of the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines were also received for the vaccination campaign.
There were 7,637 new cases in January, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 107,247. The death toll rose to 2,893. The number of recovered patients increased to 73,250, leaving 31,104 active cases at the end of the month.
In February the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme provided medical aid to Algeria including medical equipment, testing kits, and protective clothing. Lockdown measures were extended in 19 provinces on 15 February. Despite the extension, the mass protests against the government which had halted the previous year resumed. President Tebboune appeased protesters by addressing the nation, pardoning several political prisoners, and inviting six political parties to a meeting at the presidential palace. There were 5,753 new cases in February, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 113,000. The death toll rose to 2,985. The number of recovered patients increased to 78,004, leaving 32,011 active cases at the end of the month.
Lockdown measures were extended in 19 provinces on March 2, and 16 provinces on March 17. There were 4,192 new cases in March, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 117,192. The death toll rose to 3,093. The number of recovered patients increased to 81,538, leaving 32,561 active cases at the end of the month.