Message for U.S. Citizens – U.S. Embassy Tunis, Tunisia

COVID-19 Update and Travel Advisory Reminder

U.S. Embassy Tunis, Tunisia September 11, 2020

Location: Tunis, Tunisia

Event: The U.S. Embassy in Tunis reminds U.S. citizens to review the travel advisory and is providing an update on COVID-19 in Tunisia.

Security Reminder: In light of the September 5 terrorist attack targeting Tunisian national guard officers in Sousse, the U.S. Embassy in Tunis reminds U.S. citizens to review the Department of State’s Tunisia Travel Advisory.

U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in Tunisia due to terrorism. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Tunisia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, museums, resorts, hotels, festivals, nightclubs, restaurants, religious sites, markets/shopping malls, government facilities and security forces. A country-wide state of emergency, which grants security forces more authority to maintain civil order and enables the government to focus on combating terrorism, is in effect.

Tunisia COVID-19 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 11, the Tunisian Ministry of Health has confirmed 5,882 cases of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health announced 465 new cases of COVID-19 on September 8, the highest number of daily positive cases recorded since the pandemic outbreak in March.
There are currently 3,879 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in Tunisia. The largest number of active cases are in the governorates of Gabes, Ben Arous, Tunis, and Sousse.
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. Offenders can be fined between 1,000 and 5,000 Tunisian Dinars (approximately $366 to $1,800 USD).

Tunisia 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.

U.S. citizens in Tunisia should:

Immediately contact the Tunisian Ministry of Health urgent medical services SAMU (190) if exhibiting symptoms and/or have been exposed to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19.
Contact the Ministry of Health toll free number with non-emergency COVID-19 questions at 80-10-19-19.
Enroll in STEP at STEP.state.gov to receive the latest updates from the Embassy.
Follow the advice of the CDC and local health authorities that you can find at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Monitor the Department of State’s COVID-19 website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html

Country Information and Travel Advisory page:

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
Email address: tunisacs@state.gov
Embassy website: https://tn.usembassy.gov
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State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs

Day Time Phone number: +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST, except U.S. federal holidays)
Website: http://www.travel.state.gov
Tunis Country Information

By U.S. Embassy Tunis | 11 September, 2020 | Topics: Alert