Coronavirus in Turkey
April 13, 2022. To counter the spread of the virus, Turkiye has administered over 147.23 million COVID-19 vaccine doses since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021. Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/turkiye-reports-nearly-6-900-new-coronavirus-cases/2561073
April 04, 2022. Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca expects a further decline in COVID-19 cases in the coming days, noting that Turkovac, the country’s locally-produced COVID-19 vaccine, has proved to be very effective. Read more: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/minister-expects-further-decline-in-covid-19-cases-172697
March 30, 2022. There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of coronary artery diseases, a Turkish expert has said, noting that there have been some negativities seen brought by the pandemic. Read more on https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/no-corelation-between-heart-diseases-vaccines-172586
March 24, 2022. The impact of the new BA.2 Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 will be observed in Turkey in the next two weeks, according to experts. Read more: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/new-covid-variants-impact-to-be-seen-in-two-weeks-say-experts-172445
March 15, 2022. As the virus seems to be receding, last week Turkiye scrapped the outdoor mask mandate, a longtime measure to stem the spread of COVID-19. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/turkiye-reports-25-401-new-coronavirus-cases/2532407
March 14, 2022. To counter the spread of the virus, Turkiye has administered more than 146.24 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021. Over 57.73 million people have received a first vaccine jab, while nearly 52.9 million have been immunized twice. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/health/turkiye-reports-17-426-new-coronavirus-cases-/2534086
February 28, 2022. More than 85 percent of the adult population in Turkey has been double jabbed. Nearly 53 million people aged 18 and above have been given two doses of the vaccine against COVID-19, according to data from the Health Ministry. Read more: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/minister-hails-success-in-double-jab-rate-171828
February 24, 2022. Outdoor mask, social distancing mandate may be scrapped in March. Read more: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/outdoor-mask-social-distancing-mandate-may-be-scrapped-in-march-171720
February 23, 2022. To counter the spread of the virus, Turkiye has administered over 145.12 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021. More than 57.64 million people have received a first vaccine jab, while over 52.74 million have been fully vaccinated. Third booster shots have been given to more than 26.81 million people. Read more: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/turkiye-reports-over-86-000-new-covid-19-cases/2510391
February 4, 2022. The Turkish Health Ministry reported over 107,500 new COVID-19 cases. Also, 455,463 virus tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.
To stem the virus’ spread, the country has also administered more than 142.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021, according to ministry figures.
More than 57.4 million people have gotten their first jab, while over 52.4 million have been fully vaccinated, the ministry said. Turkiye has also given third booster shots to nearly 25.3 million people. Read more: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/anadolu-agencys-morning-briefing-feb-4-2022/2493650
December 27, 2021. Over 4,500 flights were canceled by commercial airlines around the world over the Christmas weekend, as a mounting wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the omicron variant created greater uncertainty and misery for holiday travelers. Read more: https://www.dailysabah.com/business/transportation/airlines-cancel-thousands-of-flights-globally-due-to-omicron
The number of vaccines administered against COVID-19 in Turkey has exceeded 129 million doses as the country’s health minister warned against dangers from the Omicron variant of the virus. Read more: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/over-129-million-doses-of-vaccines-given-in-turkey-170366
December 01, 2021. Turkey evacuates citizens, bans flights amid COVID-19 omicron strain. Turkey announced Friday it would impose travel restrictions from South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe beginning Nov. 27 due to the omicron strain. 41 passengers were evacuated in flights from South Africa’s largest two cities, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Koca recently stated that Turkey does not intend to implement any further lockdowns or closures to manage the pandemic’s reach, instead placing “great importance on individual precautions … particularly vaccinations. Read more: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-evacuates-citizens-bans-flights-amid-covid-19-omicron-strain/news
August 25, 2021. Turkey will require unvaccinated people to present negative PCR tests to attend social events, such as concerts, or to enter public venues, including cinemas and theaters, starting Sept. 6. Read more: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mandatory-pcr-tests-to-start-on-sept-6-167269
August 23, 2021. Expectations for a decline in COVID-19 cases did not materialize over the weekend, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has said, repeating calls for the public to get vaccinated against the virus. Read more: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/expected-decline-in-virus-cases-not-happening-warns-minister-167296
July 27, 2021. Turkey has administered nearly 67.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched a mass vaccination campaign in January, according to figures released on Monday. According to Health Ministry data, nearly 39.75 million people have gotten their first dose, while over 23.5 million have received their second jabs as well. Read more: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/number-of-covid-19-vaccine-doses-given-in-turkey-nears-675m/2314950
July 26, 2021. Turkey may face difficult autumn as COVID-19 cases climb. An early summer respite from the coronavirus pandemic may come to an end soon. On Sunday, Turkey’s daily coronavirus cases exceeded 14,000, prompting concerns as cases have been rising steadily in the past few weeks. The rise, which came only weeks after cases hovered around 4,000, is also a harbinger of a major challenge in autumn, according to experts. Autumn is a time when more people start spending time indoors, and the current rise in the cases will only worsen without measures, experts say. Read more: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-may-face-difficult-autumn-as-covid-19-cases-climb/news
June 11, 2021. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca fired tweets one after another to the joy of millions on Thursday evening, and his announcements of new groups for vaccination continued into Friday. The first group included in the new “age-free” chapter of the inoculation drive was food sector employees, which includes everyone from the staff of restaurants and cafes to people processing and delivering the food to millions every day. It was followed with hairdressers for men and women, an occupation that became dangerous during the coronavirus pandemic for an environment where people are in close contact for hours. Later, Koca announced lawyers would be able to book vaccine appointments starting on Friday. Read more: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkeys-covid-19-vaccination-drive-opens-up-for-more-people/news
June 10, 2021. Turkey’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate has reached its final stage of human trials, the country’s health minister said on June 9.
Speaking after a virtual meeting of the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board, Fahrettin Koca said: “Next week Turkey will vaccinate volunteers for Phase 3 human trials. Many vaccine development projects are underway. One of them has reached the final stage.”
Also, Turkey on June 10 has entered a new phase of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign as those 45 years of age and older will begin to be vaccinated, Koca noted.
People over the age of 40 will also be included in the vaccination drive next Monday, he added.
Read more at: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-enters-final-stage-minister-165421
June 8, 2021. Within the scope of expanding Turkey’s vaccination program, the Health Ministry has added more chronic illnesses to its list of vaccine priority, giving vaccination appointments to those over the age of 20 suffering from blood pressure, diabetes, heart, or kidney diseases. Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-expands-its-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-165381
May 20, 2021
Turkey has administered nearly 27 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since launching a mass vaccination campaign on Jan. 14, according to official figures. Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/nearly-27m-covid-19-shots-given-in-turkey-to-date/2247696
The measures include a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and a full lockdown during the weekends.
Theaters, gyms, swimming pools and similar places will remain closed, while restaurants and cafes will be allowed to serve deliveries and take-away orders. Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-reports-11000-daily-coronavirus-cases/news
Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city of Antalya welcomed some 445,671 foreign visitors from January through April this year, official data showed, as the number of Russian tourists doubled from a year ago despite Moscow’s decision last month to halt flights.
Tourists from Russia alone accounted for some 296,131 of the overall figure, Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism data compiled on Wednesday showed. Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/business/tourism/russian-arrivals-in-antalya-double-2020-figure-despite-flight-ban
May 19, 2021: Turkey enters normalization process with declining COVID-19 cases
With the declining coronavirus cases thanks to a strict lockdown in Turkey, the country has entered a 15-day period of gradual lifting of restrictions as of early Monday.
The 17-day full lockdown, which covered the remainder of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as well as three days of Ramadan Bayram, also known as Eid al-Fitr, ended as of 5 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).
The country’s Health Ministry reported over 10,500 new coronavirus cases Sunday. A total of 10,512 cases, including 920 symptomatic patients, were confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours.
Turkey’s overall case tally is now over 5.11 million, while the death toll reached 44,760, with 223 more fatalities over the past day.
As many as 14,418 more patients won the battle against the virus, taking the total number of recoveries past 4.94 million.
More than 50.86 million coronavirus tests have been conducted to date, with 202,243 more done since Saturday. The latest figures show that the number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition stands at 2,468.
As part of the 15-day measures, cafes, and restaurants will only offer delivery services, while chain supermarkets will remain closed Sundays.
All intercity travels will be subject to permissions and public transport will continue to operate at 50% capacity. An Interior Ministry statement early Sunday said the gradual normalization will start at 5 a.m. local time Monday and conclude at the same time on June 1.
During the new period, weekdays will see night curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., while weekends will be under full lockdown, the ministry said. Intercity travel will be allowed outside the curfew days and hours.
Read the full article: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-enters-normalization-process-with-declining-covid-19-cases/news
May 18, 2021: Vaccination in Turkey
Turkey has signed an agreement for the procurement of over 90 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines.
In June, some 30 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jabs will arrive in Turkey, and the deliveries will continue in July, August, and September.
Also announced that Turkey will receive more than 10 million doses of the vaccine developed by the Chinese company Sinovac this week.
To date, Turkey has administered more than 26.5 million doses of the virus jabs. Over 11.3 million people have received both doses, and more than 11.3 million people have been given both doses.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-receive-90-mln-doses-of-pfizer-vaccine-164826
April 23, 2021: Nationwide curfew started at 7 pm Thursday to end 5 am on Monday
A nationwide curfew to last nearly four days has become effective Thursday in Turkey as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The curfew from 7 p.m. local time (1600GMT) on Thursday until 5 a.m. (0200GMT) Monday will cover the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day holiday as well as the weekend, according to a circular issued by the Interior Ministry.
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, no large gatherings will be held to mark the national day, except for an official wreath-laying ceremony. Instead, some demonstrations and online events will be held.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/health/turkey-nearly-4-day-curfew-becomes-effective/2217513
April 14, 2021: Turkey reports over 62,000 COVID-19 cases
A total of 62,797 cases, including 2,802 symptomatic patients, were confirmed across the country, according to the Health Ministry.
Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-reports-over-62000-covid-19-cases/news
April 13, 2021: Turkey welcomes Ramadan with tight measures against COVID-19
Gone are the mass street dinners where people traditionally come together, under new rules for 81 provinces.
The public will also be warned not to host sahur dinners, a pre-dawn meal before starting the fast at home, as the majority of cases in the country is either blamed on household get-togethers and/or new variants.
Currently, citizens are allowed only to go out for shopping during a 56-hour lockdown that starts at 9 p.m. every Friday and ends at 5 a.m. Monday.
For Ramadan, when restaurants brim with customers during iftar times, businesses have been ordered to only serve home delivery.
As a special measure for Ramadan, authorities also closed mosques to tarawih prayers, a collective prayer performed every evening throughout the month. The public is also cautioned not to perform the prayers in groups at home.
Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-welcomes-ramadan-with-tight-measures-against-covid-19/news
April 13, 2021: Turkey: 85% of new COVID-19 cases due to UK variant
Some 85% of new COVID-19 cases across Turkey are due to the UK variant, the country’s health minister said on Monday, urging people to take further steps to stem the virus’ spread.
Out of Turkey’s 81 provinces, “the South Africa COVID-19 variant is seen in 285 people in 11 provinces, while the Brazil strain is seen in 166 people in nine provinces,” Fahrettin Koca told a news conference following the Coronavirus Science Board Meeting.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/health/turkey-85-of-new-covid-19-cases-due-to-uk-variant/2206883
April 12, 2021: Turkey reports over 50,000 COVID-19 cases
A total of 50,678 cases, including 2,548 symptomatic patients, were confirmed across the country. Turkey’s overall case tally stands at over 3.8 million, while the nationwide death toll has reached 33,939, with 237 fatalities over the past day.
Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-reports-over-50000-covid-19-cases/news
April 3, 2021: More than 40,000 new cases per day
Health Ministry of Turkey reported on April 1 more than 40,000 new coronavirus cases, the highest single-day spike in the country since the beginning of the outbreak.
A total of 40,806 cases, including 1,424 symptomatic patients, were registered across the country over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 3.3 million. The nationwide death toll has reached 31,713 with 176 more fatalities over the past day.
As many as 20,817 more patients won the battle against the disease, raising the number of recoveries to over 3 million.
More than 38.8 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in Turkey to date, with 243,738 done since April 1.