Cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Algeria 2020-2022

As of January 16, 2022, the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Algeria reached 226,057. The cumulative number of cases in the country particularly increased in November 2020 and July 2021, concurrently with the increment of the daily infections, which peaked at 1,927 on July 28, 2021.

The pandemic in Algeria

The first case of COVID-19 in Algeria was confirmed in February 2020, when a man coming from Italy tested positive for the virus. The virus spread rapidly in the country, causing the first deaths in March 2020. A total of over 6,000 deaths were registered as of January 2022, with Algeria being among the African countries with the highest mortality since the beginning of the pandemic. Similar to the rest of the world, the Algerian government adopted measures to prevent the spread of the virus. These included partial and total lockdown, the closure of gyms, recreational areas, and beaches. At the end of January 2021, the country officially started the vaccination campaign.

The protests continue

The spread of the virus in Algeria also impacted the political situation. Because of the restrictions on gatherings, the Hirak movement stopped the protests in February 2020. The non-violent demonstrations started around a year before to oppose the candidacy for the fifth term of President Bouteflika. Protests continued after Tebboune’s election, demanding political and socio-economic change. Young people played a key role, with roughly 90 percent of them supporting the protests. The coronavirus (COVID-19) did not stop the movement, which continued on social media. On February 22, 2021, thousands of protesters marched in the main Algerian cities on the day of the second anniversary of the Hirak movement, showing that the protests are not stopping. Moreover, in November 2020, Algeria’s President Tebboune tested positive for the virus and flew to Germany for treatment. After returning to Algeria at the end of December, the President went back to Germany in January 2021. His illness and absence have also increased perceived political instability in the country.