Turkey plans to mandate vaccination or PCR testing for entering shopping malls

Duvar English

The Turkish government is expected to include shopping malls in a list of public spaces where PCR tests will be mandated for anyone who hasn't yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, the daily Hürriyet reported on Sep. 2. 

New precautions are expected to be implemented in the second half of September as a result of increasing occupancy of intensive care units by COVID-19 patients across the country.

The opening of schools is expected to increase the circulation of crowds, and cooler weather will inevitably increase the use of closed spaces, prompting the government to possibly implement further preventative measures, the daily said. 

Meetings, closed spaces and public spaces are expected to be subject to double-preventative measures, meaning they will require both vaccination and PCR testing. 

Separate sections in public spaces like restaurants and libraries might also be established for people who are not vaccinated, the daily said. 

Some 290 COVID-19 patients died on Sep. 1 in Turkey, the Health Ministry reported, while 23,946 new patients were diagnosed. 

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