ISTANBUL, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkey obliged all international airway passengers flying to Turkey to present a negative COVID-19 test result as of Dec. 28, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Friday.
Koca said in a written statement that all travelers coming from abroad should submit negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results carried out within the last 72 hours before boarding.
"Those who do not present a negative PCR test result will not be allowed on planes," he added.
The same will be applied for other international passengers arriving in Turkey by land and sea routes as of Dec. 30, the minister also noted. Those without tests would be put under quarantine at their addresses where they will reside in the country.
"The new measures were needed for arrivals from abroad due to the increase in the number of cases across the world and the acceleration of the pandemic," Koca pointed out, noting that the new regulation will be effective until March 1, 2021. Enditem
