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New COVID-19 measures considered as cases keep rising in Turkey

New COVID-19 measures considered as cases keep rising in Turkey

The Turkish authorities are considering imposing new widespread measures if COVID-19 infections continue to rise as they have in recent weeks.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca acknowledged the gravity of omicron cases in a statement earlier this week but highlighted that the hospitalization rate from omicron was not as high.

The country had also reduced the quarantine period for people who tested positive to seven days from fourteen days this week.

As omicron cases multiply, authorities are considering a new road map in fighting the pandemic.

No blanket restrictions are under consideration so far. Turkey had lifted almost all restrictions to curb the pandemic last summer, including curfews and lockdowns.

Among the planned measures in case of further surge in the cases are more inspections in crowded venues like shopping malls, theaters, restaurants and cafes on application of mandatory mask, social distancing and hygiene rules.

Turkey had earlier barred access for the unvaccinated in such venues and more places may be included in the list of places where the unvaccinated will be banned or required to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

Halving the capacity of crowded places like restaurants and cafes, a practice applied until summer 2021, may also be implemented.