Zero! Last Friday, the daily toll of Covid-19 contamination did not report any deaths. A first since the beginning of the pandemic. Of course, we should expect to see new victims swept away by this terrible virus, but this figure symbolizes the marked improvement in the health situation in Algeria. In the past week, the figures have dropped to a level comparable to the beginning of this epidemic. There has been a significant decrease with an average of just 30 cases per day, which is 1% of the peak infections. Algerians are therefore gradually returning to an almost normal life. Health professionals, on the other hand, can finally breathe! “The services dedicated to Covid-19 are almost empty. Even the AER does not experience a large flow of patients,” confirm the majority of doctors interviewed. A “respite” that allows many services, transformed into reception centers “Corona”, to return to their original vocation. This is the case, in particular, with general surgery. The non-urgent operations resumed more and more, much to the happiness of the patients who had been waiting for several months. Is this the end of the nightmare, two years after the first cases appeared in the country? We are not there yet. The virus is still with us. Nothing says that new variants are not going to make us return to square one again. Nevertheless, who would have imagined, just a month ago, that we could find the joy of living without the fear of Covid-19? Who would have bet a penny on a “normal” Ramadan, far from the restrictions of the last two years? The Omicron “tsunami” raised fears of the worst, especially since it occurred at a time of great relaxation in the country. But it must be noted that the decisions taken in high places made it possible to “surf” on this 4th wave without much damage.
The Algerian method…
It must be recognized that the courageous decision taken by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to close schools for two weeks, made it possible to cut the chain of contamination. We have had a very difficult three weeks, but we have done much better than many more developed countries. Fewer human casualties and…economical! A finding valid also for the first three waves, because, at the time of the assessment, it must be recognized that Algeria will have managed this health crisis well overall. The closure of the borders decided during the first wave, will have made it possible to avoid the hecatomb experienced by Europe, the United States or Brazil. It should be remembered that Algeria is one of the only countries in the world that has not resorted to “total containment”. It was more about curfews, the schedules of which changed depending on the health situation. Only the wilaya of Blida was “isolated”, with the possibility of driving for a few hours during the day. Many experts or from foreign countries had criticized the “Algerian method”, before resorting to it a few months later. Obviously, not everything has been rosy. We are thinking, in particular, of certain activities that have been the collateral victims of this pandemic. They have been arrested for several months. However, the country, which was already hit by a serious economic crisis, did not go to the bankruptcy that many predicted. The only real complaint that can be made to the health authorities concerns the management of oxygen during the third wave.
“Oxigenivorous,” the Delta variant caused a serious medical oxygen crisis last summer. The shortcomings in this area have been laid bare. However, the government, which had just been appointed, quickly put in place an emergency plan. Domestic production of this vital element was soon increased. Algerian diplomacy has also been launched in order to solicit “friendly countries” such as China. Oxygen therapy devices have been offered and our orders have been “prioritized”.
Popular membership
However, without the involvement of all, this wave would have really decimated us. Of course, we are thinking of the medical staff who fought tirelessly during these two years. In some cases, he will even have resorted to the “system D” in order to supply the patients with oxygen. The producers have also played the game, by increasing their productions very quickly. But the palm goes to the citizens who have triggered a real surge of solidarity so that their compatriots can breathe. Whether they are in Algeria or abroad, they have succeeded in a few days, the feat of bringing back thousands of oxygen therapy devices that they have graciously offered to the sick. A beautiful image of unity and brotherhood that proves once again that this people is unique, because we may have criticized the looseness of some but when it was necessary to react, they did it. In the most difficult moments of the epidemic, they naturally submitted to the health restrictions decided by the government. Masks and social distancing have reappeared every time the health situation has deteriorated. They submitted, without flinching, to the binding decisions of the Executive such as the curfew or the closure of shops. Some even did it of their own free will, while others ardently demanded them. During these two years, there will have been no march and even less a movement against the “health restrictions”. This at a time when in countries, which we say with greater popular consciousness, it was war! Whatever one may say, Algerians have shown citizenship during this health crisis. It is thanks to their membership that we can now envision a better future, far from the “Covid-19″…
translated by Hope from lexpression.dz
