The PCR test for fully vaccinated people is not longer required.

I have just received the confirmation from Tunisia. The negative PCR test previously required for entry is no longer necessary with immediate effect (October 15, 2021) for fully vaccinated person (proof by vaccination certificate with QR code). For many of you, this should make your travel preparations a lot easier.

At the same time, at least in Germany, Tunisia is no longer classified as a risk area as of today, October 16, 2021. This reduces the requirements for the return journey especially for not vaccinated people.

ATTENTION: All other entry measures to be fulfilled, as published on 10/10/2021 and communicated in the newsletter, remain valid unchanged.

FIRST OF ALL: This detailed article summarizes all information about traveling into Tunisia as well as moving around in the country.

Travel requirements: All participants from 12 years of age, regardless of their vaccination status, must be able to show a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours) upon arrival (Sunday, October 24th, 2021 approx. 3:00 p.m.). This can be done electronically via QR code or in printed form (in English or French language). In addition, proof of vaccination via QR code (electronic or printed) should be available to present when entering the country.

If you do not have the opportunity to have the PCR test carried out by your family doctor (if possible on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning), you should head for a test center at one of the airports, e.g. in southern Germany. If the result comes by e-mail after your departure, we can print out the certificate in Tortona or Genoa if necessary.

Before your journey starts: Before entering Italy, we recommend registering via app.euplf.eu . Electronic entry registration is not required for travelers in transit from the EU. However, this entry registration is absolutely necessary for the return journey to Italy in order to get on board the ferries. After registering and entering all the required data, you will also receive a QR code here. This is on November 2nd or 5th to be presented electronically 2021 when entering the port.

In addition, electronic registration is mandatory for entering Tunisia. This is to be done at app.e7mi.tn . English or French can be selected here. In addition to all personal data, the following travel data must be entered for the journey either by plane or ferry:

Trip / Voyage

• Departure country
• departure date
• travel by
  • for traveling by plane: Flight number
  • for traveling by ferry: ship/navire = Carthage
  • for traveling by ferry: sea crossing/traversée = Genua – La Gualette

Lockdown / Confinement

• Cohorting? / Voyage touristique organisé ? = yes/oui
• Region / Région = Kebili
• Address / Addrese = Hotel Offra, Douz
• Phone number / Numéro de téléphone = +216 24884383

After sending, 2 pdf files (4 A4 sheets) will be returned by email. These must be printed out, signed and carried with you.

Traveling by plane: To check-in at the airport, every traveler also needs a “travel voucher”. I will send this to each team / participant as a personalized PDF file by the next weekend at the latest. This pdf must be printed out and presented at the check-in.

Traveling by ferry with the rally: Registration and technical scrutineering will take place in Tortona (IT) on October 22nd, 2021. This is mandatory for competition participants. All other participants can also pick up their documents in Tortona (IT) between 9 am and 7 pm. If you come directly to the port in Genoa, you have to arrive there no later than 2 pm on October 23, 2021 and will then receive your documents there as well.

You need a ticket to enter the port. I will send you a copy of the group ticket after receiving it. Please print out once for each vehicle, mark the vehicle, license plate number and driver’s name in color and show them when entering the port.

For the check-in, every traveler also needs a “travel voucher”. I will send this to each team / participant as a personalized PDF file by the next weekend at the latest. This pdf must be printed out and presented at the check-in.

For boarding and later for entry into Tunisia, 3 further forms are required in which we undertake to recognize and adhere to the covid measures of the ferry company and the Tunisian authorities. These forms are only issued at the port. Those who would like to be well prepared can download, print and fill out these forms in advance. Since I have already prepared these forms with event-specific data, the download links are only available in the newsletter and are not publicly accessible here on the website.

NOW WE ARE ALMOST DONE

Customs clearance in Tunisia at the port:

Service teams, but also anyone else who takes more than € 5,000 in cash to Tunisia, should report this amount to customs, keep the exchange receipt and collect the receipts about the (larger) expenses during the rally in order to check the whereabouts of the money when leaving the country to be able to prove.

The service teams in particular are also required to prepare a rough inventory list for the service truck. Not every screw has to be listed there, but the welding machine, compressor, power generator and expensive spare parts such as spare wheels, replacement gearboxes, etc. should be listed there.

Finally for your planning:

Diesel currently costs in Tunisia the equivalent of approx. € 0.55 / l and super benzin approx. € 0.70 / l

The fuel supply in the camps and on the special stages by the event service is charged at 1.20 € / l (diesel) and 1.50 € / l (super). Pre-orders stating the required quantity are welcome. However, prepayment for these pre-orders is not necessary.

All the Tunisian authorities involved have promised us a smooth and fast handling. Keeping the completed documents ready can support this, even if some things may not be checked or collected.

We are prepared!

Tomorrow we will set off for Genoa, from where we will take the CTN ferry to Tunisia on Saturday.

On our pre-tour this year we will not only check the routes. It is also important to visit all accommodations. Because of the sharp decline in tourism, many of them, especially inland, have been closed at least temporarily.

We will pay particular attention to the handling of the current entry conditions.

• We have done the entry announcement by e-mail. The associated forms are signed.
• The PCR tests are in progress. The results we expect online for tomorrow.

We let us surprise how seriously these formalities are taken, whether the test result is also accepted electronically and which additional checks have to be carried out.

After our return we will have the latest state of knowledge and can answer all your questions and we will be able to prepare the formalities to be completed for a smooth entry of the rally participants.

Until then, you have the opportunity to follow us on the pre-tour using EXPLONA satellite tracking. -> https://tracking.explona.com/pretour_elchott2021/

As usual, you can find information and photos from the go on the Facebook page -> https://www.facebook.com/ElChott

The Tunisian health system has had a massive Covid-burden since spring.

The country has consistently met the criteria of a high-risk area since April 25, 2021, even if the 7-day incidence is now on the decline again.

There are over 23,000 fatalities in connection with covid-19 for around 12 million inhabitants, many of them only in the last few months.

The health system is accordingly heavily burdened.

In addition, many people were affected by deaths in their environment and the massive restrictions such as lockdowns and curfews and are accordingly alarmed.

For all of these reasons, Covid 19 disease in the country should be avoided at all costs, Above all, however, because care according to the usual Central European standards is not guaranteed. The return of patients by plane is also questionable. For example, the ADAC flyes back after day 15 of the illness at the earliest and the Swiss REGA makes new decisions in each individual case.

A complete vaccination protection is therefore strongly recommended to all participants.

Hygiene and precautionary rules for the duration of the El Chott rally 2021

• Only symptom-free participants are admitted to the rally.
• The Tunisian authorities currently require all those entering the country (including those who have been completely vaccinated / recovered) a PCR test, which must not be older than 72 hours at the time of entry (Sunday, October 24, 2021, 4 p.m.).
• The participants are responsible for protecting against infection. The protection needs of other rally participants, ORGA employees and locals, which may be higher than your own standards, has to be accepted without reservation
• The participants are advised to stock up on protective materials (masks, disinfectants, self-tests) at home before the start of the rally, as supplies in the country cannot be regarded as secure.
• The guidelines of the Tunisian health authorities has to be followed 100%. Currently exists a curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. and a mask requirement indoors.
• Drivers briefings and other gatherings will be held in the open air
• If any symptoms appear (cold symptoms, temperature, feeling weak, diarrhea) the participant informs the rally organization and remains in isolation (room / car) until diagnostic clarification by the medical service.
• In the case of proven Covid 19 disease, the patient will be handed over to the Tunisian medical authorities for local care and / or quarantine. Further health care by the medical / rescue service of the rally is then understandably not longer possible.

In the case that further advice is required and for all other medical-technical questions before and during the rally, the lead rally doctor is available at s.l.weber@t-online.de.

See you in good health in October

Dr. Simon Weber – Head emergency doctor

Jörg Schumann – Organizer

A co-driver for a Polaris RZR is urgently needed for the El Chott 2021 rally.

Basic knowledge of GPS navigation and reading road books should be available.

If you are interested, please contact the organizer by e-mail at short notice. We will put you in contact with the team immediately

js-motorsport@t-online.de