Tunisia on Tuesday announced the tightening of anti-coronavirus restrictions on arrival from France, Belgium, and Iceland starting Saturday, Aug. 15, reported CGTN Africa.
Tunisia has classified countries with a color code according to the level of the COVID-19 pandemic. Green areas refer to countries and regions with a low prevalence of COVID-19 where the arrivals will not be subject to special preventive measures, while any arrival from orange areas must present a negative PCR test for COVID-19 before the trip. Any tourists from red areas will be prohibited from entering.
According to a decision taken during a ministerial working session at the government’s headquarters in Tunisia’s capital Tunis, the three European countries will move from the green areas to the orange areas.
This means all travelers entering Tunisia from the three countries will be required to present a negative PCR test for the coronavirus 72 hours prior to the trip. Furthermore, the arrivals will be subject to self-isolation.
The Tunisia government has also decided to make wearing of masks obligatory in several areas such as airports, Tunis railway station, the port of La Goulette in Tunis, hospitals, private clinics, supermarkets, and closed leisure spaces.
Tunisian Ministry of Health on Monday reported 20 new COVID-19 cases. The country has reported a total of 1738 cases so far.
“Following a total of 650 lab tests, 32 cases tested positive, of which 20 were new cases, including 17 local cases and three imported cases, and 12 were previously confirmed cases who were still infected with this virus,” said the ministry in a statement.
About 1272 patients have recovered from the deadly virus in Tunisia while 52 deaths were reported.
In related news, Tunisia’s prime minister-designate Hichem Mechichi on Monday said he would form a purely technocratic government following wrangling among political parties over the formation of the country’s next administration.
