Turkey mandates unvaccinated to submit PCR tests for intercity travel, public events

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Turkey has started requesting people to show a negative PCR test for intercity travel via public transportation and entering schools, as well as theater halls, concerts and ther crowded events as part of measures against the pandemic.

People who have not been vaccinated at least with two jabs or have not recently recovered from Covid-19 will have to submit a negative PCR test taken no later than 48 hours before the travel via plane, bus or train, according to a fresh series of new measures against the pandemic.

Citizens who fail to submit a vaccine card or a negative PCR test result will not be allowed intercity transportation and cinema and concert halls.

The airports, bus terminals, and train stations request the passengers to show their HES code – personal code generated by the country's coronavirus contact tracing system – which shows whether they have been vaccinated, recovered, check the time that is scientifically considered immune after the disease, or have a negative PCR test.

People traveling on private vehicles are so far excluded from the PCR requirement.

Meanwhile, the PCR test centers opened by the Health Ministry at the airports will also continue their operations, and the passengers who wish can have a PCR test there.

Schools open with Covid measures

Students have returned to classes today (September 6) for the new term with coronavirus measures introduced.

As schools have reopened for in-person teaching after a long break since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, some 18 million students will attend classes five days a week.

Breaks and meal times will be scheduled for different intervals to avoid crowds. Classes will be held in 40-minute periods at most.

School administrations will provide free-of-charge masks for students and school personnel in case anyone needs them.

Unvaccinated teachers and school staff will take PCR tests twice a week. Parents and visitors will not be admitted to schools except in mandatory situations. School authorities can check the visitors' HES code – coronavirus contact tracing system – to see whether they are "risk-free."

Turkey has so far confirmed over 6 million coronavirus cases and 52.860 deaths, while nearly 80% of the country's adult population has received at least one dose of a two-shot vaccine. (RT/VK)