On the PCR Test Requirement for Crossing Border Gates

Dear Member,

In the letter received by our chamber from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), it is stated that, with an announcement made by the Ministry of Health, as of 30.12.2020 persons entering Türkiye by land and sea must present a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test taken within the last 72 hours, and that persons without a negative PCR test will not be allowed to board the aircraft when travelling to Türkiye.

As a result of the Union's initiatives, with the announcement of the General Directorate of Border and Coastal Health of Türkiye of the Ministry of Health dated 30.12.2020 and numbered 0013179944, the following points will be applied at all international entry points.

- As of 30.12.2020, persons over the age of 6 entering Türkiye from abroad by air will present a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result taken within the last seventy-two (72) hours prior to their entry into the country. Persons who do not present a negative PCR test result will not be allowed to board the aircraft when travelling to Türkiye.

- The negative PCR test results of persons arriving by land and sea will be checked at the entry points.

- Persons who do not present a negative PCR test result to the official authorities upon entry through the border gates will be quarantined at the address where they declare they will stay (home, hotel, etc.), and those who state that they have no place to stay will be quarantined at places to be determined by the Provincial Health Directorates.

- PCR tests will be performed on these persons on the 7th day of their quarantine period; the quarantine of those whose test result is negative will end at the end of the 7th day, and those whose PCR tests are positive will be treated in line with the COVID-19 guide of the Ministry of Health.

- For the follow-up of persons to be quarantined, they will be asked at the border gates to fill in the "COVID-19 Patient/Contact Monitoring (Quarantine) Information and Consent Form"; these forms will be kept for 30 days and personal information will be promptly recorded in the Public Health Management System (HSYS).

- Data on persons and vehicles arriving from abroad will be recorded in the information system of the relevant General Directorate (interaktif.hssgm).

- As in previous practices, there is no PCR test and quarantine requirement for aircraft crew and truck drivers. In addition, there is no PCR test and quarantine requirement for seafarers, who are regarded as "key personnel" by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Health Organization and who are also classified as "key personnel" by our country in the circular of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure dated 03.12.2020 and numbered 67504.

- It is stated that this practice will continue until 1 March 2021.

Submitted for your information.

 

This announcement has been read 1057 times.

Date Added :2021-01-05 11:37:00