US health agency deems Turkey risky for COVID-19, urges Americans to avoid nonessential travel

The U.S.' health protection agency CDC has designated Turkey as a risky place for COVID-19, urging Americans to avoid all nonessential travel to the country. "COVID-19 risk in Turkey is high. If you get sick in Turkey and need medical care, resources may be limited," the CDC said.

Duvar English

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deemed that the risk of COVID-19 in Turkey is high and has recommended that travelers avoid all non-essential travel to the country.

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"COVID-19 risk in Turkey is high. CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Turkey. Some examples of essential travel may include traveling for humanitarian aid work, medical reasons, or family emergencies," the U.S.' health protection agency said.

"Older adults, people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions, and others at increased risk for severe illness should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel, to Turkey."

The CDC also said that "resources may be limited" in Turkey. "If you get sick in Turkey and need medical care, resources may be limited."

Turkey’s daily COVID-19 cases have recently shown a sharp rebounding trend, with more than 1,000 daily jump in successive days.

On Aug. 4, the government adopted daily quarantine inspections, new tracing oversight in all cities and measures for weddings, funerals and other large gatherings, even while it avoided broad curbs on economic activity.

The Interior Ministry said the nationwide rules – including some fines for violations – were needed to sustain the fight against the pandemic, putting Turkey seventeenth globally in a tally of total cases.