Turkey Halts Flights with 46 More Countries, Takes Additional Measures Against Pandemic

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Turkey expanded the flight suspensions to another 46 countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry announced today (March 21).

In a statement, the ministry said Turkey will halt its flights to 46 more countries as of 5 p.m. (2 p.m. GMT) today as part of measures to combat the virus outbreak.

The latest decision brought the total number to 68 countries with which Turkey halted its flights.

New steps by the Health Ministry

The Health Ministry has also beefed up measures to stem the spread of coronavirus in the country, including new steps for hotels, restaurants, dormitories, and nursing homes.

Hotels and other accommodation facilities must now get detailed information on where their guests recently traveled to and their future travel plans, said the Health Ministry.

This information could be critical in handling possible future cases, the ministry said. In restaurants, to reduce the risk of infection, tables must be set at least one meter apart, it added.

If nursing home and elderly care center residents show symptoms consistent with coronavirus, all the residents will be closely monitored, it said.

The virus, which causes the disease known as COVID-19, emerged in Wuhan, China last December, and has spread to at least 166 countries and territories, according to data compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Out of almost 278,000 confirmed cases, the death toll now exceeds 11,500, and more than 89,000 have recovered. Turkey has confirmed 670 cases and nine deaths so far.

Despite the rising number of cases, most of the people who contract the virus suffer only mild symptoms and recover. (RT/VK)