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Tunisia and Covid-19

Published : 01-05-2020

The reopening of the land, air and sea borders is officially announced for June 27 to welcome foreign tourists for the summer season.

Last update: 02/07/2020

Depending on the Covid-19 health situation in the country of residence, health measures will be different. The Ministry of Health publishes the list of countries divided into three categories.

The neighboring countries of Tunisia will be the subject of bilateral conventions.


List of countries

Covid-19 and the opening of borders


For the least affected countries (green), there will be no specific measures.



Travelers from countries in the second category (orange) must present a negative PCR test carried out less than 72 hours before the time of travel (and less than 120 hours before the time of arrival on Tunisian soil).



In addition, those who stay at the hotel will be supervised by the Ready & Safe health protocol. They will be authorized to visit archaeological sites, monuments and museums within the framework of supervised excursions respecting this protocol (our article). Those who have a place of residence in Tunisia must agree in writing to respect a period of 14 days of confinement. In both cases, it will be possible to leave the hotel or place of residence on condition of presenting a second negative PCR test carried out at one's expense from the sixth day on Tunisian soil.



Finally, for the countries most affected by Covid-19, only Tunisian citizens will be able to enter Tunisia by presenting a negative test and by respecting 7 days of medical isolation in a center (at their expense) then 7 days of confinement in home.

A remote temperature measurement on arrival at the airport and a medical file, to be completed on site or online, complete the system.

Tunisia is one of the countries least affected in the world by the Covid-19 pandemic with only 50 deaths and 1,175 confirmed cases in total (for 70,040 samples) until June 30.

Also read:

“Ready and Safe”, Tunisia ready to welcome tourists 


The de-confinement phase

The lockdown measures are being lifted step by step as from May 4, and new health regulations were established.
Tourism and leisure activities have resumed gradually since May 24. Hotels are reopening since June 4 with a new health protocol.
Masks become compulsory in public transport and taxis.
Museums and archaeological sites are gradually reopening since June 4 with new health regulations (compulsory masks, reduced capacities). Private museums have started reopening since June 5 with only 50% of their capacity.
Travel between regions remained prohibited even for the Eid al-Fitr on May 24th. Free movement between the different regions was restored on June 4.
Domestic flights resume from June 12.

Video:

"The fact that Tunisia started to deal with the Covid epidemic very early on has made it possible to flatten the curve ..." Interview of Yves Souteyrand, WHO Representative in Tunisia - 30/04/2020 (in French).


Very strict measures

Measures have been taken as early as March to limit the spread of the virus: closure of borders, lockdown and curfew.

Cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues, educational institutions as well as department stores have been closed for more than two months.
Tunisian people are becoming more and more aware of the need to wear masks and maintain physical distance.
Chloroquine drugs were used from the start in the treatment of the sick.
Tunisian factories manufacturing surgical masks and protective medical equipment have increased their production to deal with the epidemic.
Tunisian hotels have provided more than 6,000 rooms free of charge to the authorities for medical personnel and confined persons.
People with symptoms, their close contacts, recent returnees and medical staff are systematically subjected to screening tests.
Tunisia has organized an airlift to repatriate Tunisians still abroad.
No cases of Covid19 have been recorded in nursing homes.

High level medical services

In its fight against Covid19, Tunisia can count on very high-level medical personnel.
Tunisian emergency physicians and resuscitators are recognized for their competence and a large number of them currently practice in European hospitals.
In April, Tunisia dispatched a delegation of 7 doctors, caregivers and technicians to Italy to support the fight against Covid19.
The Institut Pasteur in Tunis is currently working on finding a vaccine in the event that a vaccine discovered elsewhere is slow to be available. It is also developing a mathematical model to assess the effectiveness of pandemic control measures.

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