Turkey expects to be removed from UK's red list for travel
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that that there was a strong possibility of Turkey being taken off the U.K.'s red list for travel. A similar statement came from the Turkish embassy in London which said that it believes the “scientific data” should finally secure Turkey a place on the amber list. Turkey has been on the UK’s red list since May.
Duvar English / Anadolu Agency
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Aug. 24 that Turkey is likely to be removed from the United Kingdom's red list for COVID-19 travel and added to the amber list.
"We are receiving information that the possibility [of Turkey] to be removed from the red list is high," Koca told journalist Fatih Altaylı from Habertürk.
Under the current traffic light travel system, people entering the UK from red-listed countries are mandated to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days, whereas those entering from an amber-listed country are to self-isolate at home.
Separately, the Turkish embassy in London also said there was a strong possibility that Turkey would be taken off the red list.
"The scientific data on COVID-19 support our expectation that Turkey will be removed from the red list at the upcoming review,” Sky News quoted the Turkish embassy in London as saying on Aug. 24.
Turkey has been on the UK’s red list since May. British and Irish nationals, as well as those who have residence rights, are able to return but must quarantine in a hotel for 11 days at a cost of over £2,000 (around $2,742).
Meanwhile, the number of daily COVID-19 cases in Turkey rose to 19,191 on Aug. 24, and 230 patients lost their lives from the virus.