Turkey temporarily suspends flights from 4 countries

* Photo: Pixabay

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Turkey has temporarily halted the flights from the United Kingdom (UK), Denmark, the Netherlands and South Africa due to a new fast-spreading novel coronavirus (COVID-19) strain.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey has oined other European countries in banning flights from the UK and other countries due to concerns over a new fast-moving coronavirus strain.

"It has been reported that the rate of transmission has increased in the UK with the mutation of the coronavirus," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

"Under the directives of our President in coordination with our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, a temporary suspension has been decided for flights from the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, and South Africa to our country," Minister Koca added further on Twitter.

Koronavirüsün mutasyonuyla İngiltere'de bulaş hızının arttığı bildirilmiştir. Cumhurbaşkanımızın talimatı, Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığımızın koordinasyonu ile tedbiren; İngiltere, Danimarka, Hollanda ve Güney Afrika'dan ülkemize olan uçuşlarda geçici durdurma kararı alınmıştır.

— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) December 20, 2020

The move came as several European countries – including France, Germany, Italy, and Austria – announced a suspension of flights from the UK amid news of the strain. The World Health Organization (WHO) also asked European countries to redouble their health measures.

Late on Sunday, in a statement on Twitter, Koca said that as part of the measures, all passengers who are on flights that are still en route will be tested and quarantine rules will be applied when they arrive. "Measures are carried out in full coordination," Koca added.

Meanwhile, Turkey's flag carrier Turkish Airlines' CEO Bilal Ekşi said on Twitter that as part of the decision of the Health Ministry to suspend flights from the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, and South Africa, "we kindly request that none of our passengers take a rush in ticket transactions."  He added that "no passengers will be victimized regarding ticket transactions."

Turkey testing passengers from the UK

* Photo: AA

As announced by the Health Minister earlier yesterday, Turkey has begun testing passengers arriving from the UK early Monday for a new variant of the coronavirus after health officials in Britain confirmed it was rapidly spreading in the country. All passengers' contact details were taken and they are required to self-isolate. (TP/AÖ/SD)