A new lockdown to contain COVID-19 pandemic is not on the agenda, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Friday.
Koca, who spoke to journalists following a Cabinet meeting, said the Turkish government was not considering reimposing a lockdown and it wasn’t on the agenda.
The minister also addressed the issue of booster shots for those vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech jab, saying the third dose was not needed at this time.
“If the first two doses are inactive (vaccine), a third dose is needed. Because we see that the protection decreases after 4 to 6 months. The decrease is even more pronounced in the elderly and people with additional (health) conditions. There is no need for a third dose for BioNTech at the moment. But 7-8 months later, the protection decreases. We know that from Israel. In the upcoming period, we will tell you when and if it is necessary,” he said.
Almost all social restrictions were lifted in Turkey beginning July 1.
