Tunisia introduces mandatory vaccine passport

Tunisia is imposing Covid-19 vaccine passes on Tunisians and all foreign visitors, local reports said on Sunday, after a presidential decree was issued on Friday.

Officials, employees and residents will be required to show a card proving inoculation against the coronavirus to access public and private administrations, according to the decree.

The pass will also be required to enter cafes, restaurants, hotels and tourist establishments, it said.

The decree showed that the jobs of employees who did not receive vaccination in the public and private sectors will be suspended until the vaccine pass is presented.

The vaccine pass will also be a necessary document for travelling abroad, the decree said, adding that authorities should give a pass to every person who has received the vaccination.

It will also be given to foreign visitors who present a certificate of vaccination upon arrival.

More than 4.2 million of Tunisians out of about 11.6 million residents have completed their Covid-19 vaccination, the Tunisian ministry of health said.

Tunisia last month entirely lifted its nightly curfew after about a year in force, as outbreaks of the virus diminished.

Since the global outbreak of the virus in 2020, Tunisia has reported 712,000 cases and 25,149 deaths.