Tunisia targeted lockdown measures are proving effective

Tunisia Security Update

Your #1 Source for Travel & Security News IMPACTING Tunisia.

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UPDATE:  Tunisia targeted lockdown measures are proving effective as it marked 3 consective days without any new confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Source: NFA, May 12, 2020

Employees at a Tunisian factory are churning out 50,000 face masks a day and other protective medical gear.

Key INSIGHT:  Director General of the National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases Nissaf Ben Alaya said:

“It would take at least 40 days without any new infection to be able to say that Tunisia has gone beyond this phase, due to the fact that the zero case does not mean that the virus no longer exists.”

Security INSIGHT: Tunisia has started to ease lockdown measures, pointing to the relative success of the restrictions it imposed early on in the pandemic.  although schools will largely remain closed until September. Hairdressers officially opened on Monday, while cafes and mosques are due to reopen on 24 May.

Tunisia Receives Drones from China to aid COVID-19 fight

Tunisia’s nationwide lockdown began March 22, when it had just 75 confirmed cases. The UK, by contrast, did not impose a national lockdown until it had over 6,000 cases, while Italy did not go ahead with the measure until it recorded more than 9,000. Tunisia also took the early step of quarantining patients with mild symptoms in designated facilities such as hotels rather than allowing them to isolate at home as in Italy — a policy that doctors now say was a fatal flaw.

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Travel:  At the time of this writing, both the U.S. and UK embassies advises against all but essential international travel. 

Authorities strictly enforced lockdown measures in high-risk areas, patrolling the streets and even arresting those in violation of quarantine and social distancing regulations.

Civil society groups and private businesses also played an important role in helping fight the virus. Some 150 Tunisian employees of a factory helped make face masks more accessible by self-isolating at their facility in order to produce 50,000 per day. Meanwhile, numerous start-ups and civil society groups mobilized to develop and provide innovative medical protective gear to hospitals and deliver aid packages to those in need.

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Traveling family ‘stuck’ on a Mediterranean island due to Covid-19

Tunisia Security Update

Your #1 Source for Travel & Security News IMPACTING Tunisia.

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UPDATE: As the novel coronavirus stops globetrotters and other adventure travelers in their tracks, one French family of nomads is waiting out the lockdown on a Tunisian island in the Mediterranean.

Source: AFP, May 8th 2020

Key Article INSIGHT:  Tunisia has officially declared over 600 positive Covid-19 cases, including 25 deaths, since reporting its first case at the beginning of March.

Tunisia has officially declared over 600 positive Covid-19 cases, including 25 deaths, since reporting its first case at the beginning of March.

Security INSIGHT: Tunisia started the first stage of the national strategy for a partial lifting of lockdown which includes three phases: from May 4 to 24, from May 24 to June 4, and from June 4 to 14.

Travel:  At the time of this writing, both the U.S. and UK embassies advises against all but essential international travel.

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Operating in Tunisia?

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Tunisia RE-OPENS …May the 4th be with them!

Tunisia Security Update

Your #1 Source for Travel & Security News IMPACTING Tunisia.

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UPDATE: Tunisia on Monday relaxed lockdown measures with an initial phase of gradual reopening for the vital sectors of the economy, society and exports.

Source: AAWSAT, May 4th 2020

Key Article INSIGHT: Tunisian officials reported that it had recorded four new COVID-19 infections in the country over the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number to 1,013. The health ministry statement noted that 42 people who had tested positive for the virus had died in the country and that 328 have recovered thus far.

Security INSIGHT:  Over the last few days there’s been an uptick in civil discontent in response to the government’s COVID-19 response.  While the issue was addressed by government officials, the development adds additional risk to organizations in Tunisia.

COVID-19 will have a NEGATIVE IMPACT on Tunisian Tourism…

Travel:

The US embassy is working to schedule one additional repatriation flight for US citizens on May 7. See details here:

At the time of this writing, both the U.S. and UK embassies advises against all but essential international travel.

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Operating in Tunisia?

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Tunisia to REOPEN Economy in Stages…

Tunisia Security Update

Your #1 Source for Travel & Security News IMPACTING Tunisia.

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UPDATE: Tunisia to reopen economy in stages…

The lockdown will begin to be eased on May 4. Further easing after May 11 will include clothing shops and malls

Key Article INSIGHT:  The lockdown will begin to be eased on May 4. Further easing after May 11 will include clothing shops and malls, said Lobna Jribi, the minister in charge of major projects.

Tentative Stages: 

Stage 1 – May 4th- “Essential Workers + Supporting elements”

What you need to know:  On May 4th, a gradual lifting of the confinement measures will take place. The confinement measures will vary slightly from region to region and includes essential workers and workers in supporting ministries & industries.

Stage 2- May 11th “General Public” Re-open

This stage will include the general public including clothing shops, coffee shops and open markets.

Important to NOTE:  The Tunisian government will provide further detail about the new measures before May 4th.  

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Security  INSIGHT: The lockdown, according to Health Minister Abdelatif el-Makki has stopped 25,000 cases of the virus and 1,000 deaths.  Tunisia, has about 500 intensive care beds, has confirmed fewer than 1,000 cases in all.

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Travel:  At the time of this writing both the U.S. and UK embassies advises against all but essential international travel.

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Operating in Tunisia?

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Annual Jewish pilgrimage to Tunisia’s Ghriba synagogue CANCELED

Tunisia Security Update

Your #1 Source for Travel & Security News IMPACTING Tunisia.

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UPDATE: Annual pilgrimage to Tunisia’s Ghriba synagogue CANCELED.

Jews gather at the Ghriba synagogue in Tunisia’s Mediterranean resort island of Djerba on the first day of the annual Jewish pilgrimage to the synagogue on May 2, 2018. (AFP Photo/Fethi Belaid)-Source: TOI April 21, 2020

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Key Article INSIGHT: The annual pilgrimage was scheduled for May 7-13.  Hundreds of Israelis, many of them of Tunisian origin, traditionally visit the synagogue for the annual pilgrimage.

The Jewish community on Djerba dates back nearly 2,600 years, much longer than the Christian or Muslim presence on the island.

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Security  INSIGHT: Tunisia’s small Jewish community is still recovering from a suicide bombing claimed by Al-Qaeda at the synagogue in 2002 that killed 21 people. Before that, some 8,000 pilgrims used to travel to Djerba for the annual celebration.

Travel:  At the time of this writing both the U.S. and UK embassies advises against all but essential international travel.

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Operating in Tunisia?

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VIDEO UPDATE: Tunisia travel…Pre-Flight COVID-19 tests

Tunisia Security Update

Your #1 Source for Travel & Security News IMPACTING Tunisia.

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VIDEO UPDATE

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Travel UPDATE:

Ahead of boarding their Emirates flight from Dubai to Tunisia on April 15th, masked passengers were given blood tests for Covid-19, with results delivered within 10 minutes. Emirates, which claims to be the first airline to perform these tests.

Key INSIGHT: Other airlines are considering different approaches: Earlier this month, Etihad, also based in the United Arab Emirates, announced that it was currently testing new kiosks in Abu Dhabi.

Security INSIGHT:  The outbreak is hitting Tunisia’s tourism sector, which represents nearly 10% of gross domestic product (GDP) and is a key source of foreign currency, particularly hard.

Travel Guidelines:  At the time of this writing both the U.S. and UK embassies advises against all but essential international travel.

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Tunisia extends COVID-19 LOCKDOWN to May 4th…

Tunisia Security Update

Your #1 Source for Travel & Security News IMPACTING Tunisia.

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Read Full Article…

UPDATE: Tunisia extends coronavirus lockdown to May 4th

Source: Reuters April 19, 2020

Key Article INSIGHT: The North African country has confirmed 866 cases of the coronavirus and 37 related deaths, and has imposed a lockdown since March. 20.

Security INSIGHT:  The outbreak is hitting Tunisia’s tourism sector, which represents nearly 10% of gross domestic product (GDP) and is a key source of foreign currency, particularly hard.

Travel:  At the time of this writing both the U.S. and UK embassies advises against all but essential international travel.

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Operating in Tunisia?

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Tunisia ATM security

During the Tunisian revolution it was obvious that ATMs were targeted by various groups rangaging from low end criminals to more organized and professionals ones.  On the part of the perpetrator the logic is simple:  ATM=Easy Cash.  In fact, according to one European based study , ATM crimes have risen by over 149%.  The European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), reports that “Annual losses due to ATM crime in Europe are approaching 500 million euros” (ENISA,2010).

Although there are no verifiable statistics that shed light on ATM crimes in Tunisia; we can with a fair amount of certainty say that after January 14, 2011; ATM crimes have risen significantly.  ATM crimes range from your basics street mugging to more sophisticated technical techniques such as card skimming.  Card skimming “involves making a copy of the information encoded on the magnetic stripe of the card” (Russell, 2010).

In Tunisia ATMs are widely available and almost all ATMs will accept Visa cards.  Additionally, most ATMs meet appropriate security specifications such as being placed in areas that provide good lighting and visibility.

When using an ATM the following precaution tips will come in handy:

1. Selection:   Choose an ATM at a location  with minimum barriers preventing the line of sight.  If it doesn’t look safe; don’t use it…listen to your first instinct.

2.  Situational Awareness:  Scan your surrounding area for any suspicious signs before using the ATM.

3.  Transaction Completion:  After you have completed your transaction scan your surrounding area once again and look for any signs of trouble.  If you suspect a negative action is about to take place, calmly and quickly leave the area.

Lastly, unless you are really comfortable and knowledgeable in physical combat, remember the following tip: “If confronted by an assailant, give up what they demand. Do not resist, property may be recovered later or replaced” (Crime Tip Prevention).

Reference:

ENISA,2010.  Retrieved from, http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/An-alarming-increase-in-ATM-crime-743283.html

Russell, D.  2010.  ATM Skimming Device.  Retrieved from, http://EzineArticles.com/2637689

Crime Tip Prevention.  Retrived from, http://www.elkgrovepd.org/prevention/atm-safety.asp