Tunisian president takes part in aid distribution

By Mahmoud Barakat

ANKARA (AA) - Tunisian President Kais Saied has participated in the distribution of aid parcels amid countrywide lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus.

A video that circulated on social media Monday showed the Tunisian head of state carrying and distributing aid boxes himself.

In the footage, Saied says he is modeling Omar bin al-Khattab, the second Muslim caliph and a companion of Prophet Muhammad.

The caliph was known for aiding the poor by delivering the food and supplies they needed, himself.

Tunisia extended on March 31 a countrywide lockdown for another two-weeks starting April 4.

It has deployed army units throughout the country to implement the curfew taking effect between 6:00 p.m. (GMT1700) and 6:00 a.m. (GMT0700) to prevent the virus from spreading.

The Tunisian Health Ministry has confirmed 596 COVID-19 cases, and 22 deaths so far.

The first cases of the virus were detected in Wuhan, China late last year.

Since then, it has swept the globe, infecting at least 1.35 million people and killing nearly 75,000 in 183 countries, according to figures collated by Johns Hopkins University.