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In this paper, we investigate the qualitative behavior of a class of fractional SEIR epidemic models with a more general incidence rate function and time delay to incorporate latent infected individuals. We first prove positivity and boundedness of solutions of the system. The basic reproduction number R0$$ {\mathcal{R}}_0 $$ of the model is computed using the method of next generation matrix, and we prove that if R0<1$$ {\mathcal{R}}_0<1 $$, the healthy equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable, and when R0>1$$ {\mathcal{R}}_0>1 $$, the system admits a unique endemic equilibrium which is locally asymptotically stable. Moreover, using a suitable Lyapunov function and some results about the theory of stability of differential equations of delayed fractional‐order type, we give a complete study of global stability for both healthy and endemic steady states. The model is used to describe the COVID‐19 outbreak in Algeria at its beginning in February 2020. A numerical scheme, based on Adams–Bashforth–Moulton method, is used to run the numerical simulations and shows that the number of new infected individuals will peak around late July 2020. Further, numerical simulations show that around 90% of the population in Algeria will be infected. Compared with the WHO data, our results are much more close to real data. Our model with fractional derivative and delay can then better fit the data of Algeria at the beginning of infection and before the lock and isolation measures. The model we propose is a generalization of several SEIR other models with fractional derivative and delay in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]