(TAP) - The National Security Council decided at its meeting Tuesday at the Carthage Palace, under the chairmanship of President Kais Saied, to extend the general lockdown period by two weeks, starting April 5, 2020.

The meeting discussed the health, social and security situation throughout the country, as well as the measures taken in the fight against the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) and those needed to make up for the shortcomings recorded, said a statement from the Presidency of the Republic.

The meeting also looked at the latest developments in the spread of the new coronavirus in the country as well as the social consequences of the measures recently taken, the same source said.

President Kais Saied called for a more rigorous implementation of the measures decided and a change in methodology to avoid the shortcomings noted during the previous period.

He stressed the need to overcome all the obstacles encountered, to make greater efforts to bring in food across all regions and to meet the legitimate demands of the vulnerable social groups.

The President of the Republic assured Tunisians of the State's commitment to spare no effort to meet their basic expectations.

He also called for action to combat speculation, stressing the need to revise the penal code so as to treat as "war criminals" all those who exploit the condition of Tunisians by stockpiling foodstuffs and to impose the most severe penalties on them, whoever they may be.