This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
On May 11, 2020, Algeria took a significant step in its fight against the novel coronavirus by launching the production of rapid test kits.
The test kits, which have a detection time of 15 minutes and a production capacity of 200,000 units per week, were developed in partnership with Canadian and Jordanian firms.
Junior minister in charge of pharmaceutical production, Lotfi Benbahmed, announced the development on state television, stating that the laboratory in Algiers was working closely with the foreign partners to meet the country's growing demand for the test kits.
Algeria has allocated $100 million to import medical equipment and pharmaceutical products to counter the virus, and has also received medical donations from China in recent days.
As part of its efforts to slow the spread of the virus, the government has imposed a nationwide curfew, ordered the closure of most businesses, and suspended public transport.
As of May 11, 2020, Algeria had reported 5,891 confirmed infections, with 507 deaths and 2,841 recoveries.
