Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered schools to close throughout the country in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The closure starts immediately and will continue until 5 April, according to a statement made by the president’s office.

It includes primary schools, crèches, vocational training centres, universities, and koranic schools in both public and private sectors.

The decision followed the confirmation of the first coronavirus death in Algeria. A 67-year-old man died in hospital in Blida, south of Algiers. No further details were released.

Algeria on Thursday registered five new cases of the coronavirus, which brings the total number of confirmed cases to 24.

The authorities have also announced that eight patients who had been treated for Convid-19 in the country had fully recovered.

In a tweet, the president urged Algerians intending to travel to most affected areas of the country to delay their travel in order to prevent the spread of the virus.