COVID-19 News from Turkey
Updated Map of Countries Which Can Fly To Turkey
26 July 2020
Turkey: Daily COVID-19 recoveries more than infections.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-daily-covid-19-recoveries-more-than-infections/1923238
Russian tour agencies hopeful for restarting flights with Turkey.
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/tourism/russian-tour-agencies-hopeful-for-restarting-flights-with-turkey
Over 1,000 recoveries, 927 COVID-19 cases reported in Turkey.
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/over-1000-recoveries-927-covid-19-cases-reported-in-turkey/news
25 July 2020
Turkey’s coronavirus tests pass 4.5M mark.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/health/turkeys-coronavirus-tests-pass-45m-mark/1922422
24 July 2020
The pandemic restrictions for people over the age of 65 and children below the age of 18 only applies to Turkish citizens and residents; it does not apply to foreign tourists.
https://tr.usembassy.gov/health-alert-mission-turkey-july-24/
According to the Russian embassy, the Turkish authorities have elaborated an algorithm of sanitary measures for receiving foreign tourists.
https://tass.com/politics/1182291
https://tass.com/politics/1182291
https://tass.com/politics/1182291
https://tass.com/politics/1182291
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/random-screening-finds-little-incidence-of-covid-19-among-public-in-turkey/news
22 July 2020
Turkish Airlines to launch Tel Aviv – Antalya flights next week.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-turkish-airlines-to-launch-tel-aviv-antalya-flights-next-week-1001336922#utm_source=RSS
TUI, the UK’s largest holiday company, has listed 11 destinations that will be available between August 1 and 7 and Turkey will be one of them.
https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/transport/tui-summer-holiday-packages-will-restart-doncaster-sheffield-airport-here-are-destinations-2921389
21 July 2020
Further relaxing restrictions from the height of the coronavirus outbreak, Turkey is now allowing cafes, restaurants, and similar businesses to go back to normal work hours again.
http://bianet.org/english/health/227806-cafes-restaurants-allowed-to-go-back-to-normal-working-hours
Istanbul Airport’s coronavirus testing is extremely impressive. The airport offers tests for $16 each, with the capacity to handle 40,000 tests per day and to deliver results within two hours.
Travel firm TUI will resume flights from Glasgow to popular holiday destinations Spain and Turkey from August 1.
19 July 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey dropped for a fifth consecutive day, remaining below the 1,000 mark, data from the Health Ministry have shown.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/infection-cases-keep-dropping-in-turkey-156679
18 July 2020
Turkey: Coronavirus recoveries top 200,000 mark.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-coronavirus-recoveries-top-200-000-mark/1915046
17 July 2020
Turkey’s daily coronavirus cases remain below 1,000.
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkeys-daily-coronavirus-cases-remain-below-1000/news
Turkey’s prestigious Istanbul Film Festival will hold two competitions with open-air screenings between July 17 and July 28 as the country has eased coronavirus measures.
https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/cinema/istanbul-film-festival-starts-with-open-air-screenings
16 July 2020
A couple who jetted off to Turkey after bagging bargain flights have revealed what it’s like to holiday there, post-lockdown.
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/couple-take-post-lockdown-trip-18605898
Turkey reports 21 COVID-19 deaths as new infections remain below 1,000.
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-reports-21-covid-19-deaths-as-new-infections-remain-below-1000/news
Turkey and Russia have agreed to resume flights between the two countries starting yesterday, Turkish transport and infrastructure minister announced.
15 July 2020
Airline company Jet2.com has resumed flights to the likes of Spain, Turkey and Greece today after the coronavirus pandemic suspended its service for nearly four months.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8525363/Jet2-restarts-flights-holidays-time-four-months-today.html
Representatives of leading Germany-based tourism agencies will visit Turkey’s Aegean province of İzmir, resort down Kuşadası and Mediterranean resort city of Antalya to examine the safe travel certificate program on site, Turkish authorities and an airline said yesterday.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/german-tourism-professionals-visit-turkey-to-examine-safety-measures-156582
Turkey has become the first tourist destination for citizens of Ukraine that has re-opened its borders for vacationers without any inconvenience associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Ankara and Kyiv have agreed that, upon arrival on the Turkish coast or upon returning home, Ukrainians without flu symptoms would not have to undergo mandatory testing for the coronavirus or self-isolate.
https://www.unian.info/world/corona-free-travel-abroad-turkish-authorities-businesses-develop-massive-anti-covid-19-system-for-safe-tourist-season-11075039.html
14 July 2020
Turkey begins production of local version of favipiravir against COVID-19.
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-begins-production-of-local-version-of-favipiravir-against-covid-19/news
Turkey’s daily COVID-19 cases fall below 1,000 for 1st time in over a month.
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-manages-to-reduce-daily-covid-19-cases-below-1000-again/news
Turkic Council praises Turkey’s aids in COVID-19 fight.
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkic-council-praises-turkeys-aids-in-covid-19-fight-3534452
13 July 2020
To tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport has implemented a variety of initiatives and measures, to both protect passengers and safeguard the airport for the future.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has announced it has granted permission to Turkish Airlines and Air Arabia to operate their flights in Dhaka, following months of shutdown due to COVID-19, the company said.
12 July 2020
The first groups of tourists to visit the country’s Mediterranean coast after travel bans were lifted say they felt very safe due to the high-level measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus everywhere they went, from airports to hotels and beaches.
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/tourism/tourists-in-turkey-we-are-even-upset-to-return-home
Amid fears over the coronavirus pandemic, people around the world have adjusted to the new normal and began taking preventive measures, such as social distancing and home isolation. But these measures have dealt a heavy blow to particular trades, like barbers.
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/somali-barber-in-turkey-hopeful-despite-coronavirus-setback/news
11 July 2020
Decline in Turkey’s COVID-19 cases by 75 percent success, but must stick to measures to sustain it: WHO official.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/decline-in-turkeys-covid-19-cases-by-75-percent-success-but-must-stick-to-measures-to-sustain-it-who-official-156450
10 July 2020
No more Big Fat Wedding: Turks struggle to be wed in times of the coronavirus. From bejeweled masks to dummy brides, Turks struggle to combine tradition with new social distancing rules.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/07/turkey-coronavirus-hits-weddings-brides-wear-face-masks.html
Turkey and the World Health Organisation (WHO) signed an agreement on Thursday to open a WHO office in Istanbul for humanitarian and health emergencies as well as joint efforts against coronavirus in the region, Xinhua news agency reported.
https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=1859079
09 July 2020
Turkey provides medical support to Bangladesh hospitals. State-run aid agency TIKA donates ventilators, protective overalls, masks to 2 hospitals in Chittagong.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/turkey-provides-medical-support-to-bangladesh-hospitals/1904737
Turkey: Daily virus recoveries nearly 3 times new cases. Healthcare professionals did 50,103 tests over past 24 hours, raising total count to over 3.83M.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/turkey-daily-virus-recoveries-nearly-3-times-new-cases/1905295
05 July 2020
The normalization period in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, which welcomes millions of tourists from abroad every year, has reactivated the tourism sector.
04 July 2020
The U.K. government on Friday unveiled a list of “travel corridor” quarantine exemption countries deemed ”low risk,” including Turkey. Britain announced that it would scrap a requirement for people arriving from dozens of countries to spend 14 days in isolation. Starting July 10, quarantine requirements will be lifted for arrivals from about 60 countries deemed “lower risk” for the coronavirus, including Turkey, France, Spain, Germany and Italy.
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/tourism/tourists-from-turkey-will-be-exempt-from-covid-19-travel-quarantine-in-uk
According to a circular sent out by the Interior Ministry, fairgrounds and theme parks across Turkey will be able to relaunch activities on July 6 in line with COVID-19 measures.
02 July 2020
Istanbul, July 2 (IANS) Turkey’s biggest Istanbul Airport inaugurated its first COVID-19 test centre for international passengers. Samples would be examined in the laboratories at the terminal, and the results will be delivered within two hours for 110 Turkish liras (US $16), according to the airport, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.
https://menafn.com/1100419739/Turkeys-Istanbul-Airport-inaugurates-1st-COVID-19-test-centre
30 June 2020
Coronavirus response: Turkey delivers critical aid to Iraq. On 30 June 2020, as part of Allied support in response to COVID-19, Turkey delivered critical medical supplies to the Iraqi people as a sign of solidarity between two neighboring countries.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_177042.htm
Turkey will cover the cost of medical treatment for COVID-19 for holidaymakers as part of its safe tourism certification programme, Turkish minister of tourism and culture Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has announced.
https://www.meinsurancereview.com/News/View-NewsLetter-Article?id=62405&Type=MiddleEast
27 June 2020
Turkey will open testing centers for the novel coronavirus in its busy airports by July 1 and the rest in others in the country by July 15, said the Turkish tourism minister.
25 June 2020
Daily recoveries in Turkey from the novel coronavirus once again on Thursday exceeded new cases, said the country’s health minister. A total of 1,472 people beat COVID-19 over the past day, bringing the overall count to 165,706 Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter, citing Health Ministry data. The country’s death toll from the virus rose to 5,046, as it reported 21 new fatalities in the past 24 hours.
http://www.anews.com.tr/turkey/2020/06/25/turkey-daily-covid-19-recoveries-outnumber-new-infections
24 June 2020
Turkey to open Covid-19 test centers in airports. After resuming domestic and international flights, the country is set to open test centers in airports.
http://bianet.org/english/health/226254-turkey-to-open-covid-19-test-centers-in-airports
Installment Periods Increased For Tourism Sector in Turkey.
The tourism and aviation industries suffered various economic problems due to low demand and travel restrictions and lockdowns implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The government has provided and continues to provide aid to prevent and curtail these economic problems.
On June 9, 2020, the Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Authority (“BRSA”) announced that customers could pay airways, travel agents and accommodations expenditures related to domestic tourism in 18-month installment plans. The Regulation’s publication established a legal basis for the BRSA’s decision.
https://www.mondaq.com/turkey/operational-impacts-and-strategy/957638/installment-periods-increased-for-tourism-sector
23 June 2020
Turkey’s coronavirus tests pass 3M mark. Turkey has now done over 3 million coronavirus tests since the outbreak began, the country’s health minister announced.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/turkeys-coronavirus-tests-pass-3m-mark/1887427
22 June 2020
Turkey’s first mass event after the COVID-19 pandemic brought together 50 ambassadors and their families, press and businessmen together in Mediterranean Antalya’s Aspendos Theater. The concert was performed by Turkey’s seven tenors, accompanied by the Antalya Opera and Ballet’s orchestra.
https://www.duvarenglish.com/culture/2020/06/22/first-mass-event-after-covid-19-brings-turkeys-seven-tenors-together-for-50-ambassadors/
21 June 2020
Turkey successfully tackling the coronavirus pandemic with its large amount of intensive care unit beds that neared the total number in whole Europe and over a million health personnel, the country’s president said on June 20.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-owes-covid-19-success-to-health-system-erdogan-155860
19 June 2020
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that the country’s biggest cities, Istanbul and Ankara, registered their lowest number of daily virus cases in the past week.
https://www.duvarenglish.com/health-2/coronavirus/2020/06/19/istanbul-ankara-see-lowest-rise-in-coronavirus-cases-in-a-week-says-health-minister/
Coronavirus quarantines lifted in 502 residential areas in Turke. The Interior Ministry on June 19 announced that coronavirus quarantines are currently underway in 76 residential areas in 28 provinces. The areas are home to some 48,170 people. The ministry also said that quarantines have been lifted in 502 residential areas in 66 provinces.
https://www.duvarenglish.com/health-2/coronavirus/2020/06/19/coronavirus-quarantines-lifted-in-502-residential-areas-in-turkey/
18 June 2020
Germany will accept COVID-19 test which were made in Turkey.
https://www.dw.com/tr/almanya-t%C3%BCrkiyeden-al%C4%B1nan-covid-19-raporlar%C4%B1n%C4%B1-kabul-edecek/a-53865555
17 June 2020
250 Turkish tour guides organized an unforgettable event in Aspendos theater in Antalya. Tour guides stated Turkey is ready to welcome tourist once more.
Istanbul to host 2021 UEFA Champions League final instead of 2020. The men’s Champions League final was initially due to be played in Istanbul at the end of May before the Covid-19 crisis took hold. The Turkish city will now host the 2021 final instead.
15 June 2020
Turkish tourism minister says Turkey will open flights with 24 countries in July and 23 countries in August.
14 June 2020
It is reported that the number of COVID-19 free certified hotels in Turkey rose from 22 on June 8th to 81 in five days as part of the Healthy Tourism certification program. Over 300 hotels are waiting in the certification process. Antalya is reported to rank first in Turkey with 31 certified hotels and 149 applications.
13 June 2020
Recoveries from COVID-19 surpass 150,000 in Turkey. With over 45,000 tests in last 24 hours, over 2.58M people have undergone test since start of outbreak.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/health/recoveries-from-covid-19-surpass-150-000-in-turkey/1875898
11 June 2020
The weekend curfew announced by the Turkish Interior Ministry which would have covered 15 provinces 7-8 June, has been cancelled by President Erdogan. Everyone is encouraged to strictly observe the mask-distance-cleaning rules guidance.
Turkey lifts 14 days of surveillance for citizens who will come to Turkey from abroad.
New Normal” After COVID-19 and Immunity Certificates.
https://gun.av.tr/insights/articles/new-normal-after-covid-19-immunity-certificates
08 June 2020
Turkey sees major rise in COVID-19 recoveries. Country did over 39,360 coronavirus tests in past 24 hours, bringing tally to 2.3M, says the latest figures.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/health/turkey-sees-major-rise-in-covid-19-recoveries/1869754
7 June 2020
1st weekend without restrictions in Turkey since April.
6 June 2020
All travelers must have a HES code (Hayat Eve Sığar) for domestic and international flights, train and ferry travel. Information on how to obtain this code is available at this site
https://hayatevesigar.saglik.gov.tr/hes.html
5 June 2020
The weekend curfew announced by the Turkish Interior Ministry which would have covered 15 provinces 7-8 June, has been cancelled by President Erdogan. Everyone is encouraged to strictly observe the mask-distance-cleaning rules guidance.
3 June 2020
Turkey does not expect second COVID-19 wave says Turkey’s health minister. Turkey began easing measures against novel coronavirus on Monday, health minister urges compliance with precautions.
https://www.yenihaberden.com/turkey-does-not-expect-second-covid-19-wave-minister-1558264h.htm
2 June 2020
Turkey reopened its economy on Monday, with many restaurants and cafes back in business. The government has reported fewer than 1,000 novel coronavirus cases a day recently, compared with around 5,000 a day in early April.
1 June 2020
Grand Bazaar opens, flights resume as Turkey eases Covid-19 curbs.
