ON Sunday night Turkey’s health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced new travel measures that will come into immediate effect.
In a Twitter post, he shared: “It has been reported that the rate of transmission has increased in the UK with the mutation of the coronavirus,”
“Under the directives of our President in coordination with our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, a temporary suspension has been decided for flights from the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, and South Africa to our country,” Koca said. No time period has been given on the ban.
Adding that as part of the measures, all passengers who are on flights that are still en route will be tested and quarantine rules will be applied when they arrive.
Some 4,603 UK arrivals have been identified and quarantined after entering Turkey, the country’s health minister Fahrettin Koca has said.
The Turkish Embassy in London also said that due to the new strain of the virus the temporary measures in place will mean a travel ban for UK flights.
The Embassy said, “Those who have made travel planning during this period should contact the relevant airlines for their tickets.”
Travel to Cyprus
The travel ban will also mean UK transit flights to North Cyprus will also be affected, North Cyprus has increased its quarantine period to 10 days. A PCR test is required before entry, upon arrival and on the final day of quarantine.
Travel to South Cyprus is still available but the UK is but measures mean a negative PCR test is needed before the flight, another test upon arrival then 14-day quarantine on the final day of quarantine a third test will be carried out. All travellers will also need to complete a Cyprus Flight
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has also stopped border crossing between the 15-25 December with the expectation to those crossing for education and health purposes.
For more information travel, you can check out the UK government’s travel advice pages for Turkey here and Cyprus here.
