Tunisia releases 1,420 prisoners over coronavirus

Tunisian soldiers stand guard next to the headquarters of Mnihla delegation in Ariana Governorate during a demonstration against the general confinement, on March 30, 2020. (AFP/Fethi Belaid)

• Tunisia has declared a general lockdown to slow infection rates, and has confirmed 574 cases of the coronavirus and 10 deaths

TUNIS: Tunisia's President Kais Saied on Tuesday ordered the release of 1,420 prisoners in an amnesty to combat the spread of the coronavirus in prisons, a presidency statement said.
Tunisia has declared a general lockdown to slow infection rates, and has confirmed 362 cases of the coronavirus, with nine deaths.
The government said in a separate statement that it would provide food assistance to thousands of families in their homes, starting Friday, for a period of about two months.
Saied last week ordered the army to deploy in the streets to force people to respect the lockdown.