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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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.
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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With the growing economic challenges in the US, civil unrest is becoming a real threat…
UPDATE: Coronavirus lockdowns across the US have fueled record unemployment and deep economic uncertainty.-Business Insider-April 28, 2020
Key INSIGHT: With a growing number of people frustrated by the mandated lockdown coupled with high unemployment numbers; the US could reach a tipping point where social unrest becomes a serious issue.
“There’s no doubt this is going to have huge economic and social impacts, and the worse it is, the more likely that people are going to get to the point where social action is the only move forward,” Kendrick said.
Armed Protesters In Mich. Rally Against Emergency Measures
Security INSIGHT: Anti-government demonstrations could become more widespread: On Saturday, several dozen protesters disobeyed social distancing guidelines at a rally at the Capitol building in Austin, Texas, against the state’s lockdown policy.
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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.
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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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.
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.
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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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
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.
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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VIDEO UPDATE
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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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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After reviewing her speech I was able to pull out 3 Lessons that we can all benefit from during these challenging times.
Lesson#1- Think BIG Picture!
“Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it,” the Queen said. “I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge.”
Speaking in a pre-recorded video shot at Windsor Castle, the Queen took on a forward-thinking tone. As we deal with this unprecedented crisis many of us are looking for the “light at the end of the tunnel” and when the Queen stated “in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride…” she enabled her audience to look past the current situation and consider the BIG picture.
Big picture thinking enables people to let go of their current fears and consider that no matter how bad things are now this too…shall pass.
“If you think small, your world will be small. If you think big, your world will be big.” — Paulo Coelho
Lesson #2-TEAM Work makes things work!
“The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children,” she said.”
Everyone agrees that teamwork is essential to success yet it is seldom practiced in corporation and governments. When the Queen highlighted the amazing work of her nation’s essential workers she motivated them and Maslow’s hierarchy shows us that recognition is the KEY to organizational success.
Lesson #3- Authenticity is EMPOWERING!
This “challenging” time…”It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety,” the Queen said, adding “today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones.”
By sharing a personal story about a challenging time in her life, the Queen was able to create an “authentic moment”. Authentic leaders share stories to connect with their audience.
In this case the Queen talked about a time of great uncertainty (WWII) and how she was able to positively contribute in her own small way. This story is very powerful on many levels. Most importantly it makes her appear “human”…a viewer could easily think “oh ….wow…the Queen was once a child and she went through World War II…” This realization leads to a connection that cultivates courage in the sense of “if she can do it so can I!”.
@DavidSecurity Take
Security professionals can take a lot from the Queen speech because we’re often in a position to advise, empower and lead others.
By thinking BIG we can liberate ourselves from the current “crisis” and think long term. Teamwork is something we can never have too much of because security is all about collaboration. Lastly, the only way that people and organizations will listen to us in challenging moments is if we’re authentic.
Let’s all learn to apply the Queen’s lessons and use her story as fuel to get past this challenging time.
UPDATE: Tunisia targeted lockdown measures are proving effective as it marked 3 consective days without any new confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Key INSIGHT
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.
This stage will include the general public including clothing shops, coffee shops and open markets.
