Turkey to open Covid-19 test centers in airports

İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (Photo: AA)

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Turkey is set to open Covid-19 test centers in airports, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has announced.

Centers will be opened in busy airports on July 1 and others by July 15, he told the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).

Domestic flights in the country resumed on June 1 and it was announced that international flights with 40 countries would gradually resume as of June 10.

He added that more than 727 hotels and about 900 restaurants had applied for a "Safe Tourism Certification" that would indicate they had taken standard measures to prevent COVID-19 infections.

He also noted that the number of public beaches available in the country's southern tourist hotspot province Antalya would increase every year.

He said Turkey's 2023 tourism goals remained as planned despite the pandemic: "Turkey's 75 million tourists and $65 billion income goal for 2023 will be achieved."

The following measures have been taken in airports and planes to prevent Covid-19 infection:

*Passengers' body temperatures were measured before boarding.

*Passengers were handed out a "hygiene package," which includes masks and antiseptic wipes.

*Some seats were left empty to maintain social distance between passengers. In four-seat rows, two passengers sat on each ends, in two-seat-rows, one seat was left empty.

*Water was served in single-use, closed plastic cups.

*Passengers were not allowed to remove their face masks.

*Passengers had to notice flight attendants in advance before going to the restroom.

*There were no magazines in the back bags of the seats. (PT/VK)