Covid-19, the presidency announces an easing of restrictions in Tunisia
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Alaina
- . August 18, 2021
- . Update: August 18, 2021 11:02 pm
Tunisia is slowly emerging from the coronavirus health emergency. Thanks to the vaccination campaign that saw over a million Tunisians receive their dose in 48 hours, the presidency of the Republic announced today a relaxation of the restrictive measures. In a statement released a few hours ago, president Kais Saied’s staff told the decision to adjust the ban on people and vehicles in the entire Tunisian territory from midnight to five in the morning, starting from 19 out 2021 until further notice.
All family, private and public events, and gatherings in closed spaces are forbidden during this period. However, people who have completed the vaccination process against COVID-19 can attend public and private events in open spaces with the necessity of applying health protocols ratified by the Health Committee and competent authorities. Restaurants and cafes should lift chairs and prevent consumption on the place at ten o’clock at night.
For visitors and people arriving in Tunisia from abroad across all land, air, and maritime crossings, should present the result of a coronavirus negative test not exceeding 72 hours from the date of arrival. In addition, people arriving in Tunisia must respect a mandatory quarantine for ten days. They excluded from the compulsory quarantine those who completed the vaccination process against COVID-19. Civil and military health authorities should intensify and accelerate the vaccination campaign and extensive investigation of virus carriers, the presidency stressed.
The competent authorities should tighten the application and control of health protocols, individual and collective preventive measures in all sectors, private and public spaces, large spaces, and public transportation. Furthermore, all those involved in the fight against coronavirus should standardize procedures and coordination provisions at the regional level according to indicators of the spread of infection between municipalities.
Since the pandemic started, Tunis has recorded 626,750 confirmed cases and 22,025 deaths related to the coronavirus. In the last 24 hours, the North African country has announced 1,062 new cases and 120 new deaths. However, most Tunisians believe it could have been avoided so many deaths had the authorities acted from the start to prevent the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, the vaccination campaign only began on July 25, after receiving international aid, following President Kais Saied decision to freeze Parliament, remove immunity to its members and dissolve the government of Hicham Mechichi.
