Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Tunis, Tunisia

COVID-19 Information

Last updated:  09/03/2020

Tunisia-Specific Information:

  • The Tunisian Observatory for New and Emerging Diseases (ONMNE) provides regular COVID-19 updates on their official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ONMNE/.
  • As of September 3, the Tunisian Ministry of Health had confirmed 4,196 cases of COVID-19.
  • The governorates of Gabes, Kef, Ben Arous, Kairouan, Sousse, and Tunis currently have the largest number of active COVID-19 cases.
  • Effective August 24, the Government of Tunisia enacted a law requiring the mandatory wearing of face masks in public and closed spaces, including health institutions, all schools, public transport, shopping centers, leisure areas dedicated to sports or cultural activities, mosques, government buildings, airports, ports, and all public transport stations.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

  • Tunisia reopened its air, land, and sea borders on June 27, permitting entry to residents of certain countries based on a three-tiered classification of public-health risk (green, orange, and red). The most current lists can be found on ONMNE’s Facebook page.
  • The United States is currently on the Government of Tunisia’s red list, barring entry of all U.S. citizens unless they are dual Tunisian nationals, Tunisian permanent residents, or the spouse/minor children of Tunisian citizens or residents (with documented proof of relationship).
  • Upon entry, travelers in one of the excepted categories listed above are required to present the results of a negative COVID-19 PCR lab analysis test administered within 72 hours of arrival. All red list arrivals from the excepted categories should expect to quarantine at one of the Tunisian Ministry of Health quarantine facilities for two weeks.
  • All incoming travelers, no matter the country of origin, are required to arrive with the results of a negative PCR test in hand.

Movement Restrictions:

  • Given the uptick in new COVID-19 cases, authorities in El Hamma and El Hamma-Ouest, both in the governorate of Gabes, introduced public curfews (from 18:00 to 05:00) through September 3.
  • No restrictions on intercity or interstate travel.

 

Quarantine Information:

  • The United States is currently on the Government of Tunisia’s red list, barring entry of all U.S. citizens unless they are dual Tunisian nationals, Tunisian permanent residents, or the spouse/minor children of Tunisian citizens or residents (with documented proof of relationship).
  • Upon entry, travelers in one of the excepted categories listed above are required to present the results of a negative COVID-19 PCR lab analysis test administered within 72 hours of arrival. All red list arrivals from the excepted categories should expect to quarantine at one of the Tunisian Ministry of Health quarantine facilities for two weeks.
  • All incoming travelers, no matter the country of origin, are required to arrive with the results of a negative PCR test in hand.

COVID-19 Testing:

  • Testing can be done at government or private laboratories in Tunisia. The average price is 210 TND.

Transportation Options:

  • Reduced commercial flights are operating.
  • Public transportation is also operating; masks are mandatory in all public transportation vehicles.

Fines for Non-Compliance: (if applicable)

  • Non compliance with sanitary measures can result in a fine ranging between 1000TND and 5000 TND. (approximately 366 to 1,800 U.S. Dollars). Fines can be doubled for repeat offenders.

 Consular Operations:

  • ACS section resumed routines services for American citizens.
  • The consular section resumed visa operations.

Local Resources:

For Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Tunis, Tunisia

  • Address: Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis
  • Day-time phone number: +216-71-107-000 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.) After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens: +216-71-107-000